cycling in hilly cities - amirfeiz

Sharing Cycling Best PracticeSharing Cycling Best Practice

Towards Carfree Cities Conference IX"How do We Get There?"

York, England, 28 June to 1 July 2010

Improving cycling mobility in hilly cities Improving cycling mobility in hilly cities with folding with folding bikesbikes

MassimilianoMassimiliano AmirfeizAmirfeizGreen MobilityGreen Mobility

member of WWF member of WWF Liguria,Liguria,World Car Free NetworkWorld Car Free Network

TopicsTopics

•• My hometown GenovaMy hometown Genova

•• Genova ... a ski resort?Genova ... a ski resort?

•• Why folding bikes helpWhy folding bikes help•• Why folding bikes helpWhy folding bikes help

•• The definitive “last mile” solutionThe definitive “last mile” solution

•• Folding vs EFolding vs E--bikesbikes

•• Trials and lesson learnedTrials and lesson learned

•• ConclusionsConclusions

Where is Genova?Where is Genova?

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

How does it look Genova?How does it look Genova?

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfexKBJY2rk&playnext_from=TL&videos=4woeSPAJTb4

a narrow strip of land between a narrow strip of land between mountains and seamountains and sea

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

30 km

High density

population area

Genova is hillyGenova is hilly

Sea level

>80m level

Sea to 80m level

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

Courtesy of G. Ceccarelli

Sea level

Genova is the province with the second lowest Genova is the province with the second lowest car ownership in Italy (46 cars/100ab)car ownership in Italy (46 cars/100ab)

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

... and among the highest motorbike ownership levels!

Nevertheless we greatly suffer from Nevertheless we greatly suffer from traffic congestiontraffic congestion

•• Among the highest Among the highest traffic congested traffic congested cities in Italycities in Italy

... and getting worse ... and getting worse

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

... and getting worse ... and getting worse

... and car space ... and car space occupationoccupation

–– 610.897 inhabitants610.897 inhabitants

–– 280.000 cars (46 cars 280.000 cars (46 cars for every 100 people, for every 100 people, including children and including children and including children and including children and elderly)elderly)

–– 190.000 parking places190.000 parking places

•• 90.000 cars in excess!90.000 cars in excess!

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

In Genova cars are used less than In Genova cars are used less than 30 min a day30 min a day

Average number of hours cars are in use in a year in different cities in Italy, measured in 2007 and 2008

Elaboration of Vision&Value from Octo Telematics data

Genova’s inhabitants do not know “intermodality”Genova’s inhabitants do not know “intermodality”

A B“Travel” (from A to B -> 3 trips)

Trip #1 Trip # 2 Trip # 3

•• within Genova province in the peak hours it has within Genova province in the peak hours it has been estimated (&):been estimated (&):–– 799.000 Travels, composed of a total of799.000 Travels, composed of a total of–– 804.000 Trips804.000 Trips

•• This means that more than 99.7% of Travels are This means that more than 99.7% of Travels are monomodal!monomodal!

(&) 6:30am to 9:00am and 5:00pm to 8:00pm; data gathered from Genova Province “OD study 2001”

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

Cycling in Genova?Cycling in Genova?

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OkofqBGObU&playnext_from=TL&videos=vB0mbhURw6E

Cycling in Genova?Cycling in Genova?

• Common opinion:– Genova is too hilly– There is no space to accomodate cycling paths

– Genova has never had a cycling traditioncycling tradition

• Result:– No municipality cycling policy established yet

– Less than 1 km of cycling paths

– a recent (not very popular) bike sharing trial program with electrical bikes

My hometown Genova

My hometown Genova

TopicsTopics


•• Genova ... a Ski resort?Genova ... a Ski resort?






... but one moment... but one moment

Genova ... a Ski resort?

Genova ... a Ski resort? funiculars

elevators

The idea ...The idea ...



The SkiThe Ski--Lift conceptLift concept

Use vertical public transport (elevators,

funiculars, buses) to go uphill, and descend to

final destination with your bike !

: = :

Vertical TransitSki-Lift Ski Bike



Genova Ski resortGenova Ski resort



With a single vertical transportation line, With a single vertical transportation line, you can cover a vast areayou can cover a vast area

Path #1

Path #2

Path #3



TopicsTopics








Why folding bikes?Why folding bikes?

considered as hand luggage

No extra ticketNo special wagons

15 secto fold /

Low space occupation

Many bikes can be accommodated in No special wagons

No hour restrictions

to fold /unfold

accommodated in existing infrastructure

Why folding bike help


Can be carried on elevators

Can be stored “under the desk”

Anti-theft

Rideable as a normal bike

3 ÷ 8 gears

More Agile for urban spaces

With folding bikes beyond funiculars and With folding bikes beyond funiculars and elevatorselevators

•• The following may serve the The following may serve the purpose:purpose:

– Bus lines that go uphill

– Taxi service with moderated prices (municipality financial help)help)

– School buses

– ... or even hitch hiking



video video Little Green BikeLittle Green BikeLittle Green BikeLittle Green Bike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlBHS9xl6eo

Alternatives to folding bikes (1)Alternatives to folding bikes (1)

• Bike racks could be used for exploiting buses as vertical means of transportation with standard bikesstandard bikes

• but:

– at the moment not allowed in Europe

– only 2 (max 3) bikes per bus




• Special Tram/Funicular wagons

• e.g. Tram in Stuttgart • e.g. Tram in Stuttgart (Germany)




• Purposely designed transportation systems such the Trampe system in Trondheim (Norway)

• but:

– Short distances

– Dedicated to bikes

– Not much elevation

– Not very practical



TopicsTopics








30 km

Genova’s metro train last mile solutionGenova’s metro train last mile solution

• 30 km railway along the sea, with 12 railway stations

• approx. one station every 2 miles

-> most of the trips could be done bike+train, with bike segments <1 mile

The definitive “last mile” solution


A B

30 km

High density

population area

1 mile








A

B

A B






A B

A

B

TopicsTopics








Hilly citiesHilly citiesFolding Folding vsvs Electric BikesElectric Bikes

• Electric engine assistance – transforms steep hills in flat rides

– allow to cover relatively longer distances without sweating

• but consider that …• but consider that …– Battery charge dries up quite quickly on hills: 30km range of datasheet is on flat and could become 10km or less on hills

– forget inter-modality: OK only if you can reach from home a destination by bike (~5 km commuting distance)

– You need a supervised parking place at home and at destination to avoid thefts

Folding vs E

Folding vs E--bikes

bikes

Hilly citiesHilly citiesFolding Folding && Electric BikesElectric Bikes

• Min of 6 kg extra weight(could be from 11 to 17 kg)

• Typically less compact than a standard folder

• In some models electrical engine adds resistance when

• In some models electrical engine adds resistance when switched-off

-> At the moment not recommended, but with tecnical advancements may be in future an option to consider

Folding vs E

Folding vs E--bikes

bikes

TopicsTopics








Field trials & resultsField trials & results2004 First experiments

2006 Involvement of local cycling association &

field public trials

2007 “GenoVa in Bici” publication sponsored by Genoa Municipality

results presentation to 1st Italian Conference on cycling mobility

2008 experiences in other cities (Naples, Trieste)

2009 presentation in VeloCity conference in Bruxelles2009 presentation in VeloCity conference in Bruxelles

Trials and lesson learned


The “Genova a ruota libera” trial The “Genova a ruota libera” trial (2007)(2007)

• Objective: verify if benefits of bike+public transport integration and electical bikes could change perception of Genoese on bikes as an urban transportation system

• For three days, three volunteers - habitual users of cars and motorcycles - left their car/motorbike at home and spent a typical working day riding a folding/electrical/city bike, while a tutor provided assistance



The “Genova a ruota libera” trial The “Genova a ruota libera” trial resultsresults

• Before the test– All had environmental and quality of life concerns, and thought that cycling in general is “a good thing”, but ...

– didn’t believe cycling could be an option for Genova and for them

– Have never tried an e-bike nor a folding bike, and didn’t know about bike+public transport optionsabout bike+public transport options

• After the test– all three declared themselves surprised about the possibilities of e-bikes and bike-on-board options

– They declared that having the assistance of a Tutor has been of fundamental importance

– The trial changed their mind: all declared to be evaluating the use of bike for commuting and free time

• One year after– Two out of three have switched to bike for commuting and leisure

-> Lesson learned: Show them and then let them try it



The role of infomobilityThe role of infomobility• Plan intermodal trip

– Get informed on which Local Transit to take advantage of– Find the “bike-wise” best path

• Minimize waiting time

– Arrive at the Local Transit station at the right time

– Get informed about delays



ConclusionsConclusions

• Few funiculars/elevators could transform your hilly city in a bike-able city

• folding bikes allow to accomodate many people with no/minimal impact on existing infrastructure

Conclusions

no/minimal impact on existing infrastructure

• they also enable use of buses, taxi, school buses, etc. as an alternative to funiculars/elevators

• Consider also the integration with trains, metro, etc. to extend the typical bike range

• Advancement in folding bikes and infomobility makes the system quite easy and time-efficient

Picture from “GenoVa In Bici” publication

ContactsContacts

Massimiliano Amirfeiz

Green Mobility

member of WWF Liguria, World member of WWF Liguria, World Car Free Network

Genova (Italy)

email: [email protected]

Skipe: ziefrima

cycling in hilly cities - amirfeiz

Documents

hometown genova genova

bike genova

genova cars

genova ski resort

moment genova

paths genova

ceccarelli genova

hometown genova http