S4C Colloquium Aveiro 2016 https://scientistsforcyclingaveiro2016.wordpress.com/ University of Aveiro (Portugal), Region of Aveiro (CIRA), ABIMOTA/Portugal Bike Value and the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) with its global network Scientists for Cycling (S4C)

1. Professor Dirk Lauwers
Centre for Mobility and Spatial Planning
Department of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
Ghent University, Belgium
Cycle Highways
a game changer for mobility
in Flanders (Belgium) ?
SCIENTISTS FOR CYCLING COLLOQUIUM
17 NOVEMBER 2016, UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO
Plenary session 2

2. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Introducing
Prof. Dirk Lauwers
- Visiting professor UGent since 2000
- Visiting professor KULeuven since 2012
- Visiting professor Antwerp Univ. since 2013
- Consultant mobility and urban & regional devel. since 1980
- Former manager Mobility at Arcadis Belgium, before
managing director iris consulting, manager Mens en Ruimte
- Some references:
- Member of Programming Board of Flemish Cycling Council (since 2015)
- Member of the Chamber for Sustainable Mobility Flanders (since 2014)
- Member of expert commission Spatial Policy Plan Flanders (2013-2016)
- Leading expert WBCSD: indicators sustainable urban mobility (2013-2014)
- Leading expert 1st strategic EIA for EC:European HST network (1992-1993)
- Consultancy mobility planning several Eastern European cities (Riga, Sofia,
Odessa, … ) and regions (Kurzeme, Klaïpeda, Calarasi,…) (1990-2016)

3. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Flanders at a glance
Densely populated delta region
North of Brussels – over 6 mio inhabitants
Source images: Wiki, City of Ghent

4. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Flanders’ mobility at a glance
Flanders’ mobility paradox
‘the most mobile country in the world’
Source images: public, World Development Indicators (WDI), February 2015

5. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Flanders’ mobility at a glance
Flanders’ mobility paradox
‘the most congested country in the world’

6. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Flanders’ mobility at a glance
Car country
Source: OVG – 2000, 2013

7. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Flanders’ mobility at a glance
Car country – also for short trips
Travel mode by distance
car driver
car passenger
train
bus, tram, metro
cycling
walking
other

8. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
From most popular travel mode to last
alternative for UPT for who may or cannot
drive a car……………………………….
Modal share of biking during X century in city of Antwerp
Source: Min. Verkeer en Waterstaat, (1999), Fietsverkeer in praktijk en beleid in XX eeuw

9. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
Coming a long way: car euphoria expelling
biking from roads and streets
Interview on a 1986 research,
titled: The lonely biker in Flanders
“some school directors forbid
children coming to school by bike”

10. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
Slight trend shift in the 80’s: pro bike policy
Min. Johan Sauwens
First long distance biking routes
Source: Public domain

11. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
Slight trend shift in the 90’s: pro bike policy
Some cities re-invest in cycling infra
Source: City of Ghent

12. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
Second trend shift around 2000:
Structured cycling policy
Supra local functional cycling route network
For purposeful travel to residential areas,
schools, work, shopping areas,
railway stations, sporting clubs, swimming
pools etc.
Distances above 5 km

13. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
Second trend shift around 2000:
Structured cycling policy
Supra local functional cycling route network

14. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
Second trend shift around 2000:
Structured cycling policy
Supra local functional cycling route network
conform standard (40%)
not conform standard
not yet built
at the current pace
it will take 29
more years
to complete the network
conform standards*
*for the Antwerp Province

15. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Evolution of biking in Flanders
Turning point since +/- 2010: fast growing # #
especially in cities and on cycling highways
biking highways & routes
Source: Thuis in de stad, City of Ghent, Antwerp Province

16. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
E-bike & fast bikes + cycle highways
Source: Public domain – Fietsberaad (2015)

17. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: a new design standard (2015)
Source:: MOW, 2016

18. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: a logo – recognizable strand
identity (2016)
Source: peoc Vlaams Brabant 2016

19. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: a consistent network (2016)
2400 km / 17,75 km per 100 square km
Source: MOW 2016

20. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: a consistent network (2016)
(patience: devel. rate = 58%)
de
Source: MOW 2016

21. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: a consistent network (2016)
(patience: devel. rate = 58%)
but more priority for investments
Source: fietsberaad, Belga

22. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
-longer distances:
e-bike = av. trip length 1,5x mean normal bike (Dutch research)
cycle highway = av. trip length almost 2,5x mean normal route (3 cases Flanders)
Source: Fietsberaad Vlaanderen, Ugent (Countings 2015 – referring to only 3 cycle highways!)

23. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
- growth rate
Up to 20% in 2 years
Source: priv Antwerpen

24. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
-longer distances:
e-bike = av. trip length 1,5x mean normal bike (Dutch research)
cycle highway = av. trip length almost 2,5 x mean normal route ( 3 cases Flanders)
CH Antwerp-Mech
CH Leuven-Brussel
CH Leuven - Mech
Outside CH’s
Source: Fietsberaad Vlaanderen, UGent

25. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
-longer distances:
Trip distance longer than 10 km on cycle highway av. 9% of trips on highway
Mean trip length along highway = 2,8 km
Source: Fietsberaad Vlaanderen, UGent

26. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
-longer distances:
Catchment area of a biking highway up to +10km
But 80% < 2,2 km
Source: Fietsberaad Vlaanderen, Ugent, Goossens Y.

27. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
new research (limited)
gender !!!
e- bike
Urban
Hybrid
Racing
Work commute
(blue)
Source: Goosens Y (2014)

28. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
- clear patterns outside city areas
Source: Fietsberaad Vlaanderen, UGent

29. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Game changer?
cycle highways: making a difference?
several research questions still open!
- Users ‘profile (different from other routes, type of HC?)
- Speed patterns (different?)
- Daily or weekly patterns characteristics?
- Modal shift from car or…?
- Spatial bandwidth of CH’s? How to come to B.O.D.?
- How to deal with discontinuities in route quality?
- What are decisive qualities from users’ experience?
- …

30. S4C COLLOQUIUM
University of Aveiro
Portugal, November 17, 2016
Thank you for the attention
(save your applause for the bikers)
Let’s talk
.Lauwers@ugent.be twitter: @Dirk_Lauwers