home sitemap contact

language EN  FR  DE  ES  NL
search on cycling
[how to search] [help]
     velo.info log in
show navigation menu concepts thesaurus top 5 predefined


Search on Cycling: Cycling and Urban Efficiency

This briefing outlines the following topic areas:
  • The current situation
  • Goals to be achieved
  • The benefits of promoting cycling
    1. Quality of life
    2. City vitality and prosperity
  • sustainable society
Current Situation: Over 75% of the European Union’s population lives in an urban area (European Commission, 2003). Urban transport systems therefore, are vital in ensuring mobility and accessibility for this population. However, such systems have brought negative side-effects. Cities are experiencing problems related to urban sprawl, congestion, air and noise pollution, poor health and safety and road accidents, with an overall loss of quality of life and efficiency. Instead of “serving them”, traffic is “consuming” cities (UITP, 1996). This is only likely to worsen. Between 1995 and 2030, total kilometres travelled in EU urban areas are expected to increase by 40% (European Commission, 2003). Current levels and such projected growth of car use, are unsustainable and desirable (Alayo et al., 1998). Without change, they will have dire consequences. A good transport system is a key element of an efficient and successful economy. Therefore, a poor, inefficient system hinders urban success (I-ce, 2000). The current transport system is even counterproductive – “too much traffic kills traffic” (EEA, 2003).

Find related documents

download full article PDF
 
_
    A project in the EU Fifth Framework Programme, part of the work programme City of Tomorrow and Cultural Heritage