Daniel Convissor's Website

Transportation Planning for Bicycles

-- "The Evolution of a Successful Bikeway System," Public Works, August 1983.

-- Jun-Meng Yang, "Bicycle Traffic in China," Transportation Quarterly, Jan. 1985

--London Cyclist, Jan/Feb 1990. London Cycling Campaign.

-- Susan Hanson and Perry Hanson, Problems in Integrating Bicycle Travel into the Urban Transportation Planning Process. SUNY Buffalo

Following Cecil Parkinson's announcement i March that the DTp would be willing to work with the boroughs to develop a cycle route network for London, this written statement by Mr. Atkins confirmed the Department's intention to support the London Cycling Campaign's proposal.

The Minister also stated that in conjunction with the London Planning Advisory Committee (LPAC), the DTp is organizing a technical seminar to be held later this year. This will give the London Boroughs and other bodies within interest in providing cycling facilities in London the opportunity to meet and discuss the implementation of the cycle route network. The LCC will be involved in the planning of the Seminar.

--London Cyclist, July/August 1990. London Cycling Campaign.

The enthusiastic response to the "quick-n-dirty" display map prompted the creation, nine months later, of the more complete "El Segundo Employment Center Bicycle Commuter Guide." Four-color, printed on coated paper, the map combines the best elements of "old style" bike maps, showing official bike paths, and the "new generation" bike maps that rate street conditions. The map stresses bike commuting, rather than recreational cycling....

The map clearly illustrates the adage that "bicyclists make bike paths, planners don't," which the local riders hope decision makers will note....

"We see that bicycling is essential to solving our problem, when it's part of a mix of transportation strategies,: said Rob Blanche, ESEA's transportation planner.

-- Sharon Buchalter and Erica Goebel, "LA Working on Getting to Work!", Bicycle Forum #10, (1983)

Recently, bicycle transportation has received popular and research attention. It has become apparent that bicycle transportation is a possible alternative for solving the problems of immobility, traffic congestion, air pollution and energy shortages. However, there has been little research on the actual reasons why people choose bicycles as a transportation mode.

--Donna Lott and Dale Lott (Bicycle Research Associates, Davis, CA) and Timothy Tardiff (U Cal. Davis); Bicycle Transportation for Downtown Work Trips: A Case Study in Davis, California.

Cycleway will be officially launched in 1990. Should you wish to obtain further details, contact either your local road safety officer or RoSPA, Cannon House, Priory Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6BS.

--London Cyclist, Jan/Feb 1990. London Cycling Campaign.

The [Toronto] Public Works Department has agreed to paint them with highly visible yellow non-skid paint, and either bevel the edges or feather the asphalt around them so the edges don't destroy bicycle wheels. They are also testing two new orange plastic plates, apparently with non-skid surfaces, which may some day replace the steel ones. [steel is easily recyclable, the plastic, may not be].

Cycling Committee members will work with Public Works staff in evaluating the painted steel plates and the new plastic plates.

--Cyclometer January, 1990. Toronto City Cycling Committee.

Ross also points to madison's pedestrian/bicycle subcommittee, a division of the local transportation commission. It ensures that the opinions of cyclists are represented within city government. "The subcommittee is just one more way of recognizing how important bicycle issues are," he says.

--Susan Sorensen, "Cities Making a Difference," Bicycling,

good ones:

(ix) programs to limit poritons of road surfaces or certain sections of the metropolitan area to the use of nonmotorized vehicles or pedestrian use, both as to time and place;

(x) provisions for eployer participation in programs to encourage carpooling, vanpooling, mass transit, bicycling, and walking;

(xi) programs for secure bicycle stroage facilities and other facilites, including bicycle lanes, for the convenience and protection of bicyclists, in both public and private areas;

[33 states took advantage of these measures when drawing up their State Implementation Plans in 1979. According to How To Promote Bicycling as a Pollution Solution, (June 1989). League of American Bicyclists.

bad ones:

(vi) programs for long-range transit improvements involving new transportation policies and transportation facilites or major changes in existing facilites; [bad because it permits road widening]

(xv) programs to reduce emissions by improvements in traffic flow;

--Dan Convissor

However, a survey in Pennsylvania in 1974 indicated that for all bicyclists, 58% would have otherwise reached their destination in a car, 33% as a driver and 25% as a passenger, if they couldn't travel by bicycle. Only 3% would have used a bus or motorcycle. For bicyclists over 16, 62% would have driven a car, and 12% would have been an auto passenger. Forty percent of the bicyclists under 16 would have been an auto passenger, and 55% would have walked.

A survey in Washington, DC indicated a higher percentage of bicyclists would have walked if bicycles were not an option. Sixteen percent would have walked if bicycles were not an option. Sixteen percent would have driven or been a passenger in a car for school trips, 40% for personal business, and 32% for work trips.

After construction of a bicycle bridge in Eugene, Oregon, bicyclists using all three bridges in the city were surveyed. Twenty-nine percent of the bicycle riders surveyed said they used a car less frequently as a result of the bicycle bridge construction.

Primary modes of travel for which the bicycle substituted, by age of bicyclist

Age     Walking   Drive car    Passenger in car    Bus    Other

<6       60%       -                36%            1%     3%
6-11     58%       -                38%            2%     2%
12-15    50%       1%               43%            2%     4%
16-19    28%      42%               22%            3%     5%
20-23    17%      69%                7%            1%     6%
24-29    20%      71%                9%            2%     -
30-44    20%      66%                9%            1%     4%
45-59    15%      73%                8%            3%     1%
6>       27%      59%                -            11%     3%

Total    37%      33%              25%            2%      3%

--Marda Formann Mayo, Bicycling and Air Quality Information Document, prepared for USEPA by Abt Associates, Sept. 1979.

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