too many bikestoo many bikes - velo...

Too many bikesToo many bikes

Jaap ValkemaCycling Officer

City of GroningenCity of Groningenthe Netherlands

[email protected]

IntroductionIntroduction

do you know Katie Melua’s song ‘Nine million bicycles’?this song is about China’s capital: Beijing g j g

20 million inhabitants 0.45 bicycle per inhabitant

‘Nine million bicycles’Nine million bicycles

Groningen: capital north of the Netherlands and 7th largest city

approximately 200,000 inhabitants estimation: 350,000 bicycles 1 75 bi l i h bit t1.75 bicycle per inhabitant


1.75imagine Beijing with 0.45 bicycles per inhabitant35 million bicycles!

1.75

y


traffic circulation since 1977 (no through traffic in city center)

compact city (within 3 kilometers of city center live 80% of inhabitants)

consistent traffic and transport policy (bicycle is number 1)


high bike ownership means high number of bicycle tripsbetween 50 and 55% of all trips are done by bicycle y ytarget 2030: 65%


population (+12% between 2000 and 2012)

number of students (+23% between 2006 and 2012)

car use (-2% between 2000 and 2012)

public transport use (-2% between 2000 and 2012)

bicycle use (+28% between 2000 and 2012)

parked bicycles railway station (+200% between 2000 and 2012)

cycling has had a lot of potential, and the good news is it still has!

Car and bicycle (2000 = 100)

Developments / trendsDevelopments / trends

Groningen is very proud of the high bicycle use objective is to increase bicycle use in modal split j ybut the nuisance of large number of parked bikes everywhere and theabundance of cyclists in the streets threaten this success even the public opinion of cycling and cyclists changes negatively

how can we change this positively?

Developments / trendsDevelopments / trends

1. bicycle parking (city center, railway station)

2. bicycle infrastructure

ContentContent

Bicycle parkingBicycle parking

City center - 1 introduction of several measures for bicycle parking on the street:

red carpetspeak hour parking facilitiesparking bays (paint and through illumination)parking bays (paint and through illumination)

bicycle parking instead of car parkingbicycle parking zone (not outside racks)


City center - 2 facilitate bicycle parking:

new bicycle parking garagesparking garages on prime hotspots and at the end of major bicycle routesbicycle routes


City center - 3 plans for Groninger Forum (2016/2017):

easy and direct access (tapis roulant or conveyor)

space for special bicyclesambiance of the facilityambiance of the facilitye-bike charging stationreferral system for empty spaces


Railway station - 1 10 years ago (3,000 bicycles)

today (10,000 bicycles)

it’s freeconvenient locatedconvenient located easy to find bicycle path maximum 12 days


Railway station - 2 growth in the number of parked bicycles (15,000 to 17,000)

parking management is a concern (paid versus free)

enforcement is under pressure (budget cuts)


??????


Bicycle infrastructureBicycle infrastructure

To and from city province and region invest in construction of bicycle highways to city of Groningen:

direct route (maximum detour factor 1.2)

at least 3 50 meters wideat least 3.50 meters widespace between bicycle path and road 6.00 metersright of way at intersections

i di t 20 kil tmaximum distance 20 kilometers


realized / under constructionplanning stagerealized / under construction


In the city itself present-day situation:

primary cycling network corresponds to main road networksecondary cycling network passes through residential areas

attractiveness safety and comfort for cyclists decreasesattractiveness, safety and comfort for cyclists decreases but also: public transport and car traffic have to deal with large number of cyclists (delays, congestion, etc.)y ( y , g , )

unbundling of car and bicycle infrastructurefocus is more and more on cycling highways in the city itself y g g y ypolitical discussion:

input for election campaigns (March 2014)

main topic in new traffic and transport plan ( d f 2013)main topic in new traffic and transport plan (end of 2013)

new priority in our bicycle policy


In / around city centerprevention of through bicycle traffic by creating alternativesbicycle ring road around the city center:

fast, safe and comfortabel alternative for through trafficfast and easy access to main bicycle parkingsfast and easy access to main bicycle parkings


Wrap up / conclusionsWrap up / conclusions

ConclusionsGroningen is a real bicycle city (modal split 50-55% - target 65%)

if we don’t take real measures, public opinion can change negativelythe city of Groningen has a new vision:

l f bi l ki th t tseveral measures for bicycle parking on the streethigh quality parking garages on prime hotspotsmore attention for bicycle parking on P&R’s and train stationsmore attention for bicycle parking on P&R s and train stationschange the parking behavior of cyclistsconstruction of bicycle highways between city and neighbouring illvillages

unbundling car and bicycle traffic in the city itselfbicycle ring road around city centery g ypriority for cyclists on roundabouts and at traffic lights

Wrap up / conclusionsWrap up / conclusions

Questions / discussionQuestions / discussion

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