Tartu, Estonia aims to become a real cycling city but faces several barriers. It has strengths like its compact size and many young people, but weaknesses include narrow streets, rivers, and railroads that divide the city. Currently only 4.8% of trips are made by bicycle, compared to 28.2% by car. The city made early efforts to develop cycling infrastructure in the 1990s by painting bike lanes, but most facilities are still insufficiently separated from motor traffic. Recent positive developments include a new bike path, improved bicycle parking, and promotional campaigns, but many intersections and crossings remain unsafe. The city is working to both improve facilities and promote cycling culture.

1. Rein Lepik
President
Vänta Aga Cycling Club
Tartu, Estonia

2. What chances to become a
real cycling city?
What barriers to
overcome?
Estonia
•100 000 inhabitants on 38,8 km²
•Tartu is an university town with 22 000 students
•25% of the inhabitants of the city are aged between
15 and 29 years
•The new residential areas outside the city are often at a
distance of 5 – 7 km from the city centre – a perfect cycling
distance.
Tartu

3. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Potential of cycling in the city
The strenghts of the city as a cycling city are:
•Compactness
•Many young people
•Innovative city
•The first developments of cycling facilities in Estonia
•The most popular cycling events in Estonia
Weaknesses:
•Narrow space in the city
•River, railways, several steep slopes
•Climate
•Attitude of the city officials
•Poor acceptance by motorists

4. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?

5. Modal split 2012
Public
Transport,
26.6
Car, 28.2Cycling, 4.8
Pedestrians,
40.4

6. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
• After regaining independence people were ready for rapid changes.
• Velo Secur conference in 1990 in Salzburg
• Initiative of active people – a good start for the future
• General scheme of bicycle paths - basic document for further developments.
The lack of resources permitted only the painting of some cycle lanes and the
designation of some pavements and footpaths as shared use paths.
Development of cycling infrastructure in 1990-2000

7. What chances to become a
real cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Some recent developments
Looks nice
but ...

8. What chances to become a
real cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Unsolved intersections

9. What chances to become a
real cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Zebra crossings

10. What chances to become a
real cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Most popular traffic signs

11. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
High kerbs

12. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Arguments for constructing high kerbs
to help blind people find the crossing
to stop cyclists riding too fast (!?) to direct rainwater away
from the the cycle path

13. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Repaired new facilities

15. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Narrow space and barriers

16. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Good reasons why cyclists should wear helmets

17. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Good news

18. Veski tänava
jalgrattarada 2013

19. Bicycle parking

21. Parking at schools

22. Kergliikluse
propageerimine –
Tartu jalgrattakool

23. Kergliikluse
propageerimine –
jalgrattahooaja
avamine 1. mai

24. Kergliikluse
propageerimine –
jalgrattahooaja
avamine 1. mai

25. Kergliikluse
propageerimine –
autovaba päev 22.
september

26. Kergliikluse
propageerimine –
autovaba päev 22.
september

27. Kergliikluse
propageerimine –
kampaaniad
(Vargast targem)

28. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Good news
Bicycle commission of Tartu Opening a new bicycle path

29. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Good news
Collection of good and bad examples of cycling infrastructure

30. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Good news

31. What chances to become a real
cycling city?
What barriers to overcome?
Good
news
EstoVelo
Bicycle routes
network

32. Welcome to cycle
in Estonia!