an engineering perspective designing cities in europe for bicycles

An Engineering Perspective

Designing Cities in Europe for Bicycles

ProWalk ProBike Seattle 2008

Presented by:Tom Bertulis, PESenior Technical AdvisorInstitute for Transportation

and Development Policy (ITDP)

Designing Cities in Europe for Bicycles

an Engineering Perspective

31 May 2005

Formerly: Tom Bertulis, PEEngineering

ManagerCycling Scotland

Currently: Tom Bertulis, PESenior Technical AdvisorITDP MexicoInstitute for Transportation and

Development Policy

Urban Transport Benchmarking Project (UTBI)

Presentation Outline

Hierarchy of Solutions

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

Does increasing cycling …

• reduce CO2 emissions?

• reduce congestion?

So how does that pertain to the Hierarchy of Solutions?

So how does that pertain to the Hierarchy of Solutions?

We just need to be clear of our goals …

- Graham McGarva

- Benton County (safety, comfort)

- Large urban area

Try the Hierarchy of Solutions!

The vicious circle of providing infrastructure for motorized transport

MoreCars

More roads

More cars

More roads

Congestion

Congestion

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

Traffic Reduction

20

Traffic Reduction

Traffic Reduction

Traffic Reduction

1 of every 3 persons go to work by bicycle

1990s: converted one way streets back into

two way streets.

1960s; converted two way streets to one

way streets.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Pedestrian space in Copenhagen increased by 7 times since 1960.

Build a cycle network?

Livingston, Scotland

Livingston

Houten, Netherlands

Cycle traffic calming at road crossingHouten, Netherlands

Groningen, Netherlands

39

57% of trips to school or work

Amsterdam, Netherlands

DHL goods distributions by boat near Cycle parkingAmsterdam, Netherlands

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

“People and Bikes before Cars” SigningFindhorn, Scotland

Cycle Route Traffic calmingRotterdam, Netherlands

Delft, Netherlands

Berlin: 72% calmed streets

Warrington, England

S-Hump traffic calmingWarrington, England

S-Hump traffic calmingWarrington, England

Geneva, Switzerland

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

Malmö, Sweden

Note the two waybike facility, poor design!

Roundabout

Raised table

England

Odense, Denmark

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

England

Scotland

Centreline removal with added cycle lanes (24’ lane)East Renfrewshire, Scotland

Centreline removal (24’ lane)

Peebles, Scotland

2003 Centerline Removal Study

• Wiltshire County Council • Before and After study of 12 roads• 33% reduction in motor vehicle accidents

11 feet

Bi-directional5 foot

Bike lane5 foot

Bike lane

11 feet

Bi-directional

5 foot Bike lane

5 foot Bike lane

2005 5600ADT2005 150 Bikes/day2006 4500 ADT2006 183 Bikes/day1 crash in 4 years

Centreline removal with added cycle lanes

Geneva, Switzerland

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

Velocity

Mot

or v

ehic

les

per

day

Are cyclists safer on

off-road bike paths?

The short answer:

No.

(the long answer: it depends)

in the Hierarchy of Solutions …

… providing bike paths are your last choice

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

Why are they not safer?

Side Road Crossing – danger!

Michael Ronkin

Segregated facilties

Scotland

Mexico

3m curb radius

Car culture/bike culture in Mexico

vs

Car culture/bike culture in the US

And my final point …

Hierarchy of Solutions

(1) Traffic Reduction

(2) Traffic Calming

(3) Intersection Treatment

(4) Roadway Redistribution

(5) Segregated Facilities

First Priority

Last Priority

Any questions?