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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

THE BICYCLE AS A MODE OF URBAN TRANSPORTATION

THE INCREASING USE OF THE BICYCLE AS A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION HAS CAUSED IT TO BECOME A MAJOR FACTOR IN URBAN AND HIGHWAY PLANNING. AS MANY MORE PEOPLE COMMUTE TO WORK BY BICYCLE, AND BATTLE FOR SPACE ON ROADS WITH A HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC, IT BECOMES EVEN MORE EVIDENT THAT PROVISIONS MUST BE MADE TO PROVIDE THE BICYCLIST WITH SAFE, CONVENIENT BIKEWAYS ON WHICH TO TRAVEL. THE CURRENT GASOLINE SHORTAGE, THE OVERALL AWAKENING OF CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE DECISIVE ECONOMICAL BENEFITS OF BICYCLES ALL ARE FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWING ACCEPTANCE OF THEM AS A VIABLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. THERE ARE CERTAIN IMPORTANT LIMITATIONS ON THE USE OF BICYCLES, WHICH INCLUDE SAFETY, WEATHER, DISTANCE AND VEHICLE STORAGE. SAFETY ESPECIALLY IS A MAJOR FACTOR, IN THAT THERE HAS BEEN A 78 PERCENT INCREASE IN BICYCLE ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT THE AGE OF THE RIDER SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS HIS ABILITY TO CONTROL HIS VEHICLE AND TO PERCEIVE HAZARDS. SOME PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN IN THE SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE SAFETY SKILLS OF YOUNG RIDERS. STORAGE FACILITIES FOR BICYCLES MAY BE PROVIDED EITHER PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY. IT WAS ESTIMATED IN A CHICAGO STUDY THAT 14 OR 15 BICYCLES COULD OCCUPY THE SPACE NECESSARY TO PARK AN AUTOMOBILE. BICYCLES COULD BE USED MORE EFFECTIVELY AS A MEANS OF COMMUTING IF BIKEWAYS WERE IMPLEMENTED. COSTS VARY ACCORDING TO THE CLASS OF THE BIKEWAY; BUT THE OVERALL SAVINGS TO THE ENVIRONMENT, IF BICYCLE AND AUTOMOBILE WOULD SUPPLEMENT EACH OTHER, IS FELT TO BE WORTH THE EXPENSE.

  • Authors:
    • Yu, J C
  • Publication Date: 1973-9

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  • Accession Number: 00224504
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Apr 27 1981 12:00AM