Inplementing western cycling solution is Post-Soviet countries

Marcin Hyła, Marcin Hyła, www.miastadlarowerow.plwww.miastadlarowerow.pl VeloForum, 16VeloForum, 16thth Oct. 2010 Oct. 2010

How to implement cycling How to implement cycling solutions in a post-communist solutions in a post-communist street system (and mentality)street system (and mentality)

http://www.miastadlarowerow.pl/

What has communism to do with cycling?No free flow of ideas in society (and between societies)Specific urban planning (or rather non-planning)Little choice for „consumer”; lifestyles - limitedSuppressed demand for cars („western lifestyle”), both cars and bicycles - scarce!Public transport, predominant under communism, reduced need for other mobility

Cycling in post-communist worldCycling in post-communist world

Cycling in the WestUrban (and urbane)Northern Europe (Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland), not the USLong tradition: in 1930's, up to 80% of all trips were made on bicycle in NetherlandsHarmonious development of cities: many mistakes and „dead ends” but a constant process of learning and improving



Netherlands: high heel cyclingNetherlands: high heel cycling


Congestion in NetherlandsCongestion in Netherlands


Cycling up to 30-40% of all tripsCycling up to 30-40% of all trips


Netherlands & Denmark: inspirationNetherlands & Denmark: inspiration

Cycling in the East (at least in Poland)RuralPoor man's transport – or sport (Peace Race)Urban cycling (commuting) was present in Polish cities before WWII but not on a large scale. Poland was predominantly ruralCity development frozen under communism: many cities suffer from bad land use patterns and inadequate transport corridors (e.g. too narrow, inadequate network hierarchization)



Cycling in rural PolandCycling in rural Poland


Cycling as sport or recreationCycling as sport or recreation


Cycling as what?Cycling as what?

Specific technical issues in PolandCar parking generally allowed on pavement Street cross-sections often leave no room for bicycle lanesChaotic development in the streets (kiosks, shops, filling stations etc. make it difficult to provide segregated cycling facilitiesHeavy goods traffic often goes through city centres or streets important for intra-city trafficObstacles: rivers, railways, industrial zones etc.



Cycle lane vs. pavement parkingCycle lane vs. pavement parking


No room for cycle filtering laneNo room for cycle filtering lane


„„Cycling infrastructure”Cycling infrastructure”

Cycling infrastructure dilemmas (general)On-road or off-road facilities?How to manage junctions?One way or two way facilities?For whom the infrastructure: the experienced cyclists, the beginners, „weekend cyclists” or just the „potential” or „future” cyclists?Look at transition countries, not only „top cycling countries” (UK, France, Spain vs. Netherlands or Denmark)


CROW five requirements (www.crow.nl)Coherence (100% of journey sources and destinations served)Directness (no detours, detour factor <1,3)Comfort (no stopping, braking, starting, minimizing effort, delay factor: <15 seconds/km)Safety (minimizing conflicts and colision points)Attractiveness (added value: aesthetics etc.)

All have tangible parameters with treshold values


http://www.crow.nl/


The „Bible”The „Bible”

Eastern European (or Polish) dilemmasHeavy winters: lots of snow, ice and dirtVery poor road quality (ruts, potholes etc.)Extremely bad road safety records: dangerous driving (high speeds)People tend to cycle on sidewalks (occasional cyclists, elderly, children) as they are perceived by them as „safer” than roadway



Heavy winter cyclingHeavy winter cycling


Studded winter tyresStudded winter tyres

Legal contextLaw is extremely important in the long runWill be discussed at the other presentation on cycling strategiesVienna Convention on Road Traffic and Vienna Convention on Road Signs (both 1968) and their position in the legal system must be researched!Poland has enormous problems with legal regulations (Highway Code and other), over-regulation, very poor quality laws


ROWEROWA POLSKA 2008

Who has priority here?Who has priority here?


ROWEROWA POLSKA 2008

Vienna Convention: cyclists!Vienna Convention: cyclists!


How do they do it in the West?Cycle lanes, not cycle tracksTraffic calmingThe more cyclists, the safer they areIntegrated approach, not isolated oneCycle parking infrastructureBike and ride – bikes and public transport


Hierarchy of actionTraffic reduction (esp. Heavy Goods Vehicles)Traffic calming (30 kph zones, woonerven)Junction treatment (e.g. small roundabouts)Roadspace reallocation (cycle lanes, shared bus and cycle lanes)Segregated facilities – the very last



Traffic reduction Traffic reduction


Traffic calmingTraffic calming


Small roundabout: no left turn!Small roundabout: no left turn!


Filtering cycle lane at junctionFiltering cycle lane at junction


Filtering lane and ASL for cyclistsFiltering lane and ASL for cyclists


Advanced Stop Line for cyclistsAdvanced Stop Line for cyclists


Left turn zoneLeft turn zone

West – East comparison


Berlin KrakówRoad network 5242 km 1200 km

contraflow 200 km ca. 3 km

traffic calming

More than 10% ca. 1-2%

Cycling infrastructure

820 km – 15 % of road network length

90 km – 8,5 % of road network length

3700 km, 70% of road network length

ca. 80-120 km, <10% of road network length

All cycle friendly infrastructure

4520 km, 85% of road network length

170-210 km, 15% of road network length

Cycling as modal share

How do we do it in the East?Cycle tracks (segregated) along main roads (postulated by cycling groups)Cycle tracks where there's room, not real need (implemented by authorities)Lots of problems and misunderstanding on technical levelOpposition to traffic calming (road engineers)Opposition to contraflow cycling



Do we need a cycle „track” here?Do we need a cycle „track” here?


A „facility”A „facility”


Segregation provides safety :-)Segregation provides safety :-)

Cycle tracks (segregated)Very tricky at junctionsRequire meticulous planning and designProblems with pedestrians (bus stops, shops, kiosks, entrances)Obvious solution for major roadsProblematic (or extremely problematic) in other, minor roads with many junctions



Cycle track: base courseCycle track: base course


Machinery at workMachinery at work


Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA)Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA)


Small rollerSmall roller


Good geometry: for all cyclistsGood geometry: for all cyclists


Cycle track lower than pavementCycle track lower than pavement

Cycle lanes (on-road)Good when real speed isn't high and no Heavy Goods Vehicles are presentFiltering lanes: may be very good at junctions (good visibility)Work well with Advanced Stop Lines for bikesRequire special solutions at junctions in wider (2 lane or more) streets – Left Turn StopsVery few examples in Poland: traffic engineers don't like them and laws are complicated


Contraflow cyclingSafe: drivers and cyclists see each other!Safer than alternatives: often allow not to use road or junction where cycling is problematic!Promotes cycling as makes routes shorterCheap and efficientUsually needs no infrastructure or car parking relocationStandard in the West, opposed in the East



Contraflow cyclingContraflow cycling


Segregation at curvesSegregation at curves


Contraflow lane is one - way!Contraflow lane is one - way!


No surface markings are neededNo surface markings are needed


Belgium: in all one-way streets! Belgium: in all one-way streets!

Traffic calmingGrass – root demand (local communities, schools, not just cyclists) – room for coalitionsSynergies: road safety for all (not only cyclists)Lack of engineering skills (speed humps need careful planning and design) Small roundabouts (single shared lane): no left turns for cyclists!



Traffic calming: speed humpsTraffic calming: speed humps

Lessons learnedNo cycling facility may be... OK!Cyclists at the right side of the road may be just fine, if sufficient space for overtaking is provided and surface is goodAvoid left turns. They may be extremely dangerous, especially with multi-lane roadsSegregated facilities must be top quality, must shorten distance and time and must be well connected to the remaining road network



Two – level junctionTwo – level junction


Cyclists go underCyclists go under

ri


Cyclists, pedestrians and tramwaysCyclists, pedestrians and tramways


Cycling tunnelCycling tunnel


A simple T-junction solutionA simple T-junction solution


Wisla river cycle track (Krakow)Wisla river cycle track (Krakow)


More than 500 cyclist per hourMore than 500 cyclist per hour


Cycle bridgeCycle bridge


More than 250 m for cyclistsMore than 250 m for cyclists


Cycling bridge downtown KrakowCycling bridge downtown Krakow

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Inplementing western cycling solution is Post-Soviet countries

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