The FLOW project aims to demonstrate that walking and cycling can reduce congestion. It developed tools to assess the congestion impact of these modes, applied the tools in several cities, and raised awareness. The project created a methodology, extended transport models, produced an impact assessment tool and guidelines. It analyzed measures in partner cities and increased knowledge through training programs. The project seeks to integrate its approach in standard transport planning to establish walking and cycling as congestion solutions.

1. Funded by the Horizon 2020
Framework Programme of the
European Union
FLOW – Furthering Less congestion by creating
Opportunities for more Walking and cycling
Kristin Tovaas, Rupprecht Consult
30 November 2017, Brussels
1st European conference on results from road transport research in H2020 projects
Session: New mobility patterns

2. Setting the context – the (co)benefits of walking and cycling
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health environment economy transport

3. Bringing two worlds together
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Cycling and walking are playing
a larger role in people's
transport choices.
Transport models
determine action.

4. FLOW project
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Technical partners
• PTV
• Wuppertal Institute
• Forum of European
National Highway
Research Laboratories
Cycling and walking
• European Cyclists’
Federation
• Walk21
Cities
Project aim: To put non-motorised
transport on a level field with motorised
transport with regard to its ability to
reduce congestion
Coordinator: Rupprecht Consult
Total costs: €3.781M
EC contribution: €3.781M
Time: May 2015-April 2018
+9 Exchange Cities
+24 Follower Cities
+12 Market Forerunners
+21 Associates
Support partners
• Rupprecht Consult (coord)
• Gdansk U of Technology
• Budapest U of Tech/ Econ
• Traject
• Polis

5. 1. Define the role of walking and cycling in congestion reduction
2. Develop and apply tools (modelling and impact assessment) for assessing the
congestion-reducing potential of walking and cycling measures
3. Demonstrate and assess the congestion reducing impact of walking and cycling
4. Increase awareness of the congestion reduction potential of walking and cycling
5. Foster the market up take of FLOW tools in cities and transport planning consultancies
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FLOW Objectives

6. ü Multimodal definition of congestion:
Congestion is a state of traffic affecting all modes on a multimodal transport network (e.g.
road, cycle facilities, pavements, bus lane) characterised by high densities and overused
infrastructure compared to an acceptable state across all modes against previously-agreed
targets and thereby leads to (perceived or actual) delay.
1. Define the role of walking and cycling in congestion reduction
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7. 2. Develop and apply tools for assessing the congestion-
reducing potential of walking & cycling measures
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üMulti-modal Congestion Assessment Tool
üImproved micro and macro modelling software
üImpact assessment tool

8. Active modes incorporated into macroscopic models
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1. Bike assignment: Path-level
attributes in stochastic assignment
(e.g. slope, level of vehicle traffic)
2. Park+ride modelling: a modelling
platform for combining two path legs
- can also be used e.g. for walk+ride
3. Bike share: enhanced mobility
sharing in PT assignment

9. Active modes incorporated into microscopic modelling
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1. Enhanced modelling of conflict
zones between cars and pedestrians
2. Behaviour parameters, new mobility
patterns
3. Interaction of bikes and pedestrians
4. Shared space

10. Measure: Pedestrianising a road segment
Location: Dublin, Ireland
• New public square improves mobility and accommodates
700 more people during rush hour
• Plan has been approved, works scheduled for early 2018
3. Demonstrate and assess the congestion reducing impact
of walking & cycling
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Measure: Reducing pedestrian crossing distances
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Narrowing roads to reduce crossing distance for
pedestrians does not increase congestion

11. ü Series of 3 e-courses and webinars 140
participants from 63 cities in 34 countries across 4
continents, from local authorities, consultancies,
universities and NGOs
ü 3 face-to-face learning & exchange workshops
with 9 Exchange Cities and 24 Follower Cities
ü Surveyed 79 decision makers about perceptions,
influences and barriers around congestion policies
ü Portfolio of 20 walking & cycling measures
ü 15 Quick Facts for Cities
ü Animated video
4. Increase awareness of the congestion reduction potential
of walking & cycling
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12. ü Market Catalogue of 30 companies that can support cities in the
planning of walking and cycling measures to reduce congestion
ü 2 face-to-face workshops (including modelling training) with 12
Market Forerunner consultancies
5. Foster the market up take of FLOW tools in cities and transport
planning consultancies
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13. Integrate the FLOW methodology & impact assessment tool into current standard transport impact analysis process
Potential long-term impact of FLOW: paradigm shift
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14. 1. Define the role of walking and cycling in congestion reduction
• D1.1 FLOW Multimodal Analysis Methodology
• D1.3 Analysing the impact of walking and cycling on urban road performance: a conceptual framework
2. Develop and apply tools (modelling and impact assessment) for assessing the congestion-reducing potential of walking and cycling
measures
• D2.1 Congestion impact evaluation of walking and cycling: state-of the- art survey
• D2.2 Extended versions of PTV Visum and Vissim software
• D2.3 FLOW Impact Assessment Tool
• D2.4 FLOW Congestion Impact Reduction Analysis Tools Guidelines
3. Demonstrate and assess the congestion reducing impact of walking and cycling
• D3.1 Analyses of local context conditions and assessment requirements in FLOW partner cities
• D3.2 Summaries of results of application of FLOW Methodology and Assessment Tools
• Final deliverables for Partner Cities and Exchange Cities (respectively) currently in progress, to be completed by end of January 2018: D3.4
Local implementation scenarios and action plans; D3.6 Roadmaps for congestion busting walking and cycling measures in Exchange Cities
4. Increase awareness of the congestion reduction potential of walking and cycling
• D1.2 FLOW Portfolio of Measures on the role of walking and cycling in reducing congestion
• D5.3 FLOW video
• D7.4 15 Quick Facts for Cities (all project languages)
5. Foster the market up take of FLOW tools in cities and transport planning consultancies
• D6.2 Online Congestion Busting Catalogue
Achievements of the project objectives
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15. Thank you for your attention.
Bonnie Fenton
b.fenton@rupprecht-consult.eu
+49 (0)221 60 55 55 - 27
Kristin Tovaas
k.tovaas@rupprecht-consult.eu
+49 (0)221 60 55 55 - 24