17 Dec
2012
17 Dec
'12
2:51 p.m.
In November 2012 MIT Press published "City Cycling," a book that examines
the many different aspects of cycling trends and policies across the
globe. Bicycling is booming in many of the world's cities, for many reasons:
health and environmental benefits, time and cost savings, more and better
bike lanes and paths, innovative bike sharing programs, and the sheer fun
of riding a bike. "City Cycling" offers a guide to this urban cycling ren
aissance, with the goal of promoting cycling as sustainable urban
transportation available to everyone. It reports on cycling trends and
policies in North America, Europe, and Australia, and offers information on
such topics as cycling safety, cycling infrastructure provisions, including
bikeways and bike parking, the wide range of bike designs and bike
equipment, integration of cycling with public transportation, and promoting
cycling for women and children.
Chapters 3 and 7 deal explicitly with the public health aspects of
cycling. Chapter 3 (by three Australian professors of public health, Jan
Garrard, Adrian Bauman, and Chris Rissel) documents the physical, social,
and mental health benefits of cycling. They review dozens of studies
showing that the health benefits of cycling exceed the traffic risks by a
ratio of at least ten-to-one, even in the United States. In countries such
as The Netherlands, the benefit/cost ratio is much higher. Chapter 7 (by
two public health experts, Peter Jacobsen and Harry Rutter) examines the
crucial issue of cycling safety and propose ways to make cycling safer,
both in fact and in perception, in order to attract risk-averse and/or
vulnerable cyclists.
"City Cycling" emphasizes that bicycling should not be limited to those who
are highly trained, extremely fit, and daring enough to battle traffic on
busy roads. The chapters describe ways to make city cycling feasible,
convenient, and safe for commutes to work and school, shopping trips,
visits to friends, and other daily transportation needs. The book also
offers detailed examination and illustrations of cycling conditions in
different urban environments: small cities, large cities, and 'megacities.'
These chapters offer a closer look at how cities both with and without
historical cycling cultures have developed cycling programs over time. The
book makes it clear that successful promotion of city cycling depends on
infrastructure provision coordinated with supportive programs and
government policies.
One important theme throughout the book is the need to make cycling
possible for everyone, as a matter of social justice and equity in
transportation policy. That requires special attention to the needs of
women, children, and seniors, who are underrepresented among cyclists,
and whose
share of cyclists has even been falling in the United States. Equity and
social justice in transportation policy demand that all modes of transportation
made accessible and safe for all groups, especially those who are
vulnerable, such as children and seniors. The rise in cycling in the
United States has been dramatic and encouraging, but it has been focused
mainly among young and middle-aged men. Infrastructure, programs, and
government policies must be improved to broaden the appeal of cycling, so
that it is more socially inclusive and provides greater mobility,
independence and physical activity for all groups, not just for recreation,
but for daily, utilitarian travel.
For more information on the book, see: *http://
citycyclingbook.wordpress.com*
--
*Wishing you a winter warmed by the love of family and friends! * * *
*Prof. John Pucher, Rutgers University*
*Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy*
*33 Livingston Avenue, Room 363*
*New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 USA*
*New office phone number: (848) 932-2803
*
*Fax: (732) 932-6564*
* <pucher(a)rutgers.edu>*
*Webpage: http://www.policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher
New book: "City Cycling" by MIT Press: http://citycyclingbook.wordpress.com
*
*
<http://picasaweb.google.com/JohnPucher>*