Fwd: [lacbc-planning] John Pucher talk at UCLA today

Of interest, from an LA advocacy group mailing list:

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Kent Strumpell 
> 
> Great presentation, good turnout.  Of course many of us have heard much of this before, but still, it was good to hear it well-compiled by a respected and passionate academic on the subject.
> 
> My notes below.
> 
> 
> Kent
> ------------------------
> 
> John Pucher talk at UCLA Lewis CenterTransportation Lecture Series
> Oct. 31, 2012
> Promoting Cycling and Walking for Sustainable Cities:
> Lessons from Europe and North America
> Introduced by Martin Wachs
> 
> Pucher (Rutgers Univ) has a book that just came out, City Cycling (and affordable at $17).  Much of the presentation was from the book.
> 
> Cycling is the most sustainable transport mode
> Cited a litany of well-known benefits: environmental, health, infrastructure cost, personal cost, etc.
> Better cost benefit ratio than other modes.
> A study shows personal health benefits of walking and cycling more than offset added time spent cycling, in healthy years added to life.
> Countries with low rates of obesity are correlated with high levels of active lifestyles, including cycling.
> Public policy more than anything else is responsible for this.
> 
> It IS possible to increase. levels of cycling 
> In fact, many of the cities with highest levels of cycling have had their most significant increases occur in the past 20-30 years (on the order 2-5X).  Same is true of US cities.
> Canada rate of bike commuting is 3X US, despite climate.  Reason: more compact land use patterns.
> 27% of trips in US are 1 mile or shorter; 41% shorter than 2 miles.
> Euro cities far exceed US in bike-ped use for these short trips, even controlling for other factors.
> Only 10% of bike trips in Denmark are recreational.
> 
> Women and cycling
> 55% of bike trips in Denmark are by women.
> Positive correlation between cities with the highest levels of cycling and % of cyclists who are women.  *** The lesson: ask women what they want and give it to them!
> In No Europe, as people age, their rate of cycling goes up.  In NL, ages 70-84 make 23% of their trips by bike.
> Goal: Make walking and cycling safe for everyone. 
> 
> Safety is key
> Injury and fatality rates are many times lower in No. Europe despite far higher % of trips made by bicycle than in US.  
> While both regions saw a drop in injuries and fatalities in recent years, US drop was far less than Europe.
> As levels of cycling increase, injury / fatality rates drop dramatically (probably due to increased visibility and empathy of motorists who cycle).  This phenomenon seen in No. American cities too.
> Collisions between motor vehicles and bikes and peds, at speeds over 30km / 20mph there is an exponetial incr. in cyclist and pedestrian fatalities.
> *** 60-80% redux in child fatalities where traffic calming present (good factoid for Michigan Greenway outreach).
> 
> Separated bike facilities
> The degree to which bikes are separated from cars correlates with high levels of women cycling.
> The US cities with highest levels of cycling also have the most availability of separated bikeways, also bike facilities on bridges.
> *** Without extensive networks of separated bikeways, we'll be stuck with low levels of bicycle usage.
> 
> Public policy to spur cycling and discourage auto travel were prominent in No. Europe, such as:
> - better bike facilities
> - integrating bikes w/ transit
> - education, enforcement
> - measures to discourage driving, etc.
> - German law requires motorists to proactively anticipate possible hazardous behavior of cyclists and peds and take steps to avoid injuring them, or will be found liable if they collide.
> 
> Practices and innovations in various cities
> Montreal has the largest cycle track system in No. America
> Quebec bike and ped paths locate the peds closer to waterfront attractions than the bike path (maybe that's why our beach path has so many bike-ped conflicts?)
> Dutch make wide use of raised speed tables  (one photo looks like they use separate pavers on top of asphalt to create the raised section; a cost effective way to implement?)
> Berlin has ~ 5000km of traffic calmed streets or roads w/ bikeways and has achieved 10% bike mode share.
> Portland uses a diagonal bike crossing through an intersection, all cross traffic stopped like a scramble, triggered by sensor or button.
> Variation on a bike box: cyclists allowed / encouraged to move ahead of stop bar in bike lane, so motorists can see them better.
> Illuminated bollards pulse in progression to show best bike speed to sync your speed with signals
> Big woonerf symbol applied to pavement in some countries.
> Portland has the most bicycle boulevards in the US (possible examples for Michigan Greenway)
> Bike corrals: in many commercial districsts where they've been installed they've seen a boost in customers and merchants are clamoring for them. 
> 
> Integrating bikes with transit
> Bikes on board transit vehicles, secure parking, bike share (Monteal saw a big boost in biking when Bixi was introduced).
> Best bike stations are full service (like SM bike center).
> Bike parking areas should have direct ramp access to platforms, bus stops, streets.
> 
> Traffic education is crucial
> *** Much more emphasis needed on how motorists can avoid endangering bikes and peds.
> Compulsory traffic safety lessons for all school. children (3rd and 4th grade) in many Euro countries, sometimes with a test at completion by a real cop.
> 
> Encourage promotional events like street closures, bike to school, bike to work, rides for seniors, social rides
> 
> Implementation strategies
> - publicize both individual and societal benefits,
> - ensure citizen participation in all stages of planning and implementation to assure community support.
> - develop long range plans and update them regularly.
> - implement controversial policies, projects in stages.
> - combine incentives for cycling when disincentives for driving are introduced.
> - build alliances with politicians, cycling orgs, and other bike friendly groups.
> - coordinate advocacy and planning with local state and fed orgs (and agencies?)
> 
> Re question about use of helmets, Pucher cited the test a guy did where he donned various outfits to see how he'd be treated by motorists.  A grey haired woman w/out helmet weaving a bit got the most room; male with helmet in lycra on expensive bike got treated worst. 
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--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://gridlogisticsinc.com
http://www.rickrise.com