If your city is up to capacity on traffic flows what can you do?

If your city street is packed with cars like image (1) you might think that the 'disused' cycle path might be a waste of space. 

But you would be wrong - As figure 2 shows the actual density of a 4 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic is quite low. Figure 3 shows what this look likes as a bus, but for this blog figure 4 looks 'quite' but infact it's the same capcacity ( number of people ) is the traffic jam in figure 1. So which would you prefer to be in ?



(Photo credit: Phil Sheffield, Tampa Tribune ) 

Human Transit: 02box: on operating cost

Intreasting blog on understanding the costs of bus and rail transit.



Human Transit: 02box: on operating cost: It's All About Labor

Driver labor, and related time-based costs, are the dominant element – often 70% or more -- of transit operating budgets in the developed world.


This partly explains why cycle monorails and elevated cycle ways are so much cheaper than traditional monorail ( aka train on a stick ). Also check out   http://www.humantransit.org/2011/04/basics-walking-distance-to-transit.html on why elevated cycle lanes help improve the radius for the network.

Book: City Cycling (Urban and Industrial Environments)

 you may have seen some of John's videos on YouTube where he presents the reasons for city cycling. 

 This is a book covering the same material -  there is even a Kindle version. 

"Bicycling in cities is booming, 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. City Cycling offers a guide to this urban cycling renaissance, with the goal of promoting cycling as sustainable urban transportation available to everyone. It reports on cycling trends and policies in cities 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. 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, and other daily transportation needs. The book also offers detailed examinations and illustrations of cycling conditions in different urban environments: small cities (including Davis, California, and Delft, the Netherlands), large cities (including Sydney, Chicago, Toronto and Berlin), and "megacities" (London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo). 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 clear that successful promotion of city cycling depends on coordinating infrastructure, programs, and government policies."

Books Promoting Walking and Cycling: New Perspectives on Sustainable Travel

Promoting Walking and Cycling: New Perspectives on Sustainable Travel 

With Christmas coming you might want to get  your self this very excellent book  an in-depth study of at the reasons why people don't cycle. 

Promoting Walking and Cycling: New Perspectives on Sustainable Trave

"Promoting walking and cycling proposes solutions to one of the most pressing problems in contemporary British transport planning. The need to develop more sustainable urban mobility lies at the heart of energy and environmental policies and has major implications for the planning of cities and for the structure of economy and society. However, most people feel either unable or unwilling to incorporate travel on foot or by bike into their everyday journeys. This book uses innovative quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine in depth, and in an international and historical context, why so many people fail to travel in ways that are deemed by most to be desirable. It proposes evidence-based policy solutions that could increase levels of walking and cycling substantially. This book is essential reading for planners and policy makers developing and implementing transport policies at both national and local levels, plus researchers and students in the field of mobility, transport, sustainability and urban planning."