RAIL4CITIES’ Post

Every year on June 3rd, the world celebrates #WorldBicycleDay, recognizing „the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport” (UN). In April 2024, the EU adopted the #EuropeanDeclarationOnCycling, a major policy milestone for achieving net zero goals, enabling active, healthy mobility, and redeeming cycling as full-fledged mode of transport. It includes clear commitments for developing safe and coherent cycling networks in cities, better links with public transport, parking spaces and recharging points for e-bikes. If you are interested in practical solutions, guidance and inspiration for advancing these goals, check out our „Pedaling to sustainability - Developing world-class cycling infrastructure at the functional area level” guide (https://lnkd.in/dXchXe8h), published as part of the „Functional Areas in the EU” project. The guide focuses on three dimensions: 🚲 transport (mobility, commuting, bike-sharing, bike-to-work, MaaS) 🏍 logistics (SULP - Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans, cargo bikes) 🚵♀️ leisure and tourism (EuroVelo network, slow and sustainable tourism) Its goal is to support the development of well-connected, safe and attractive cycling networks, within and beyond local administrative borders, and offers insights from a weatlh of cities and functional areas in the EU. #cycling #sustainablemobility #activecities #netzerocities #functionalareas

Here is a ride along Nørrebrogade, a typical #Copenhagen Bus/Bike/Pedestrian urban corridor- a #completestreet. As most #cycleways are in Copenhagen, it is comfortably wide mostly around 8-10' to accommodate the masses of cyclists, but it can fluctuate wider or down to around 5'. This includes the uniquely Danish blue paint through intersections delineating the cycleway. As in most European cities, I also love the short 1-2" "curbs", or dropoffs, delineating the modes. If one had to suddenly access the upper/lower lane, then it wouldn't be that dangerous to navigate 1-2" as to compared in the US where they are mostly 6". Cycling Embassy of Denmark #bicycleinfrastructure #cyclecity #activetransportation #healthycity #bicyclecity #bicycleurbanism #Mobility #bikelane #completestreets #BuiltEnvironment #urbanism #delineatedbicyclespaces #bicyclesignal #transitcorridor #multimodalism #CPH #Denmark #cycleway #CopenhagenDenmark #velohagen

🎉Antwerp ranks second in our bike share benchmark study "Shared Ambition"! 🌟 The Stad Antwerpen, Belgium, has excelled in trips per 1,000 inhabitants per day, securing second place in our latest Bike Share Benchmark Study. This achievement showcases Antwerp’s strong commitment to sustainable urban mobility 🚴♂️. 🚴♂️ Want to learn more about Antwerp’s success and other high-performing bike-sharing cities? Check out the full report and supplementary materials here: • Shared Ambition 2024 Report: https://lnkd.in/dKqNsR6p • Supplementary Material: Results from the Velo-city 2024 workshop: https://lnkd.in/ddxNysde 📊 Our Shared Ambition 2024 report benchmarks the performance of bike sharing in 148 strategic EU cities. This tool empowers cities and policymakers to identify the potential for bike sharing to significantly contribute to the EU's mobility, climate, and cycling policies. It also highlights essential performance indicators for effectively deploying bike-sharing solutions in the EU. #CyclingIndustriesEurope #ZeroCarbonMobility #BikeShareTalks #BikesForAll #EUCyclingDeclaration #BikeShareBenchmark #Antwerp

🚴♂️🌍 European Mobility Week highlight: Cycle4Climate 🌍🚴♀️ Curious about how cities in the Central Baltic region are going green? 🌿 Discover the Cycle4Climate project, which is reducing traffic-related carbon emissions by promoting cycling! 🚲✨ Learn how international collaboration is transforming urban life and making our cities more sustainable. 🌟 Read the full story, written by our national Contact Point Viola Mickos! #EuropeanMobilityWeek #Cycle4Climate #SustainableCities #GreenLiving #CentralBaltic

🌍 This Sunday marks European Car Free Day, part of the larger European Mobility Week, and even though it falls on a weekend this year, it’s still a powerful reminder of how we can reduce our environmental impact through our daily choices. At DEKRA Technology & Services, we are dedicated to sustainability, which is why we encourage our team to use public transport. To make this easier, we offer a benefit that covers the cost of public transportation within the city. Our office is conveniently accessible by public transport, so opting for greener travel is both practical and beneficial. 🚇 We’ve also made sure that cycling is an option, with dedicated bike storage facility on-site for those who prefer to pedal to work. 🚲 By taking small steps, like choosing public transit, cycling or even walking, we can all reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment. Let’s carry this mindset beyond the week and into our daily lives. 🌱 #EuropeanCarFreeDay #EuropeanMobilityWeek #SustainabilityAtWork #PublicTransport

🚴♀️ Leveraging Portuguese Cycling Lanes 🚴♂️ As we look towards building more #sustainable and efficient #urban #transportation systems, the role of #cycling #infrastructure cannot be overstated. In #Portugal, we have seen remarkable strides in this domain, particularly with the innovative utilization of existing infrastructure (e.g., old railway tracks to create #cyclinglanes). As you can briefly see in this short video, #Ciclovia do #Dão is a 50km railway track-based cycling lane that offers a myriad of benefits while connecting three municipalities (Viseu, Tondela and Santa Comba Dão). These kind of #bikelanes not only provide safe passage for #cyclists (road, mountain, city and cargo, and even people running or just walking can use it since it is well paved and has enough space), but also #repurpose underutilized spaces, contributing to the #revitalization of urban areas. Furthermore, they often #connect key destinations, promoting #businesses, #cyclingtourism, active commuting and reducing dependency on cars, thus mitigating traffic congestion and #carbonemissions. However, while celebrating these achievements, it's crucial to acknowledge the #urgent need for further improvements in urban cycling infrastructure of Portugal. Many cities still lack adequate and sufficient #facilities, such as signposted and protected lanes and bike parking, hindering widespread adoption of cycling as a viable mode of transport. Investing in urban cycling infrastructure is not just about enhancing #mobility; it's a commitment to #publichealth, #environmentalsustainability, and social #equity! By prioritizing the development of #safe and #accessible cycling #networks within cities, we can foster healthier, more livable #communities for all residents. We still have a lot to learn about #cyclingculture from countries like Denmark and the Netherlands! 📸 : Fernando Duarte #CyclingInfrastructure #SustainableTransportation #UrbanMobility #PortugalCycling

What makes Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Barcelona so great? They are all cycling cities 🚲 These cities lead the way in sustainable transport by reconfiguring their infrastructure and focusing on active mobility so that walking and cycling are the primary modes of transport. The UK could learn a thing or two. The World Resource Institute reports that 50% of trips in urban areas are typically under 10km. Yet, we continue to rely on cars for journeys that could easily be made on foot or by bike! Imagine the health benefits we could reap if we chose to walk or cycle more often. A study in the National Library of Medicine found that cycling not only strengthens your immune system but also increases the likelihood of living longer. Car-centric cities, on the other hand, have high levels of air pollution and vastly increase greenhouse gas emissions. I proudly live in an emerging new town in the Highlands, Tornagrain, that's been developed with this goal in mind - and while there still only a few hundred houses, there's already a focus on wheelin' and walkin' by many of the residents. Are we perfect? Far from it. But this year, Tornagrain held its first event featuring a free Dr Bike service to fix up our old bicycles, and gave guided walks and bike rides to highlight scenic and safe local routes that connect to the city of Inverness and our nearest train station. As more amenities get added into our community, we hopefully won't need to rely so much on jumping in our cars or waiting for the ad-hoc buses that service our village. Personally, I think all new build developments should include this as standard 👣🚲 Shout out to Sustrans, the charity responsible for the National Cycle Network, the UK-wide network of over 12,000 miles of signed paths and routes for walking, wheeling, cycling and exploring outdoors. #sustainability #transport #cycling

🚴♂️ Cycling through the city – for health, the environment, and the future! 🌍 Using a bike for daily commutes is not just about avoiding traffic and saving on fuel; it’s a tangible step towards a more sustainable future. 🚲💚 Cycling as a mode of urban transportation offers countless benefits: it improves health, reduces CO2 emissions, and enhances the quality of urban life. It’s no surprise that such solutions are a core focus of the Sustainable Transport program at Poznań University of Technology. 🌱📚 In this program, we explore innovative transport strategies that aim to transform cities into greener, more livable spaces. I encourage everyone to choose a bike for their daily commute—not just on sunny days but all year round! 🚴♀️ Every kilometre cycled is a step toward a healthier and more sustainable world. What solutions do you think are key to creating more sustainable cities? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 🗨️👇 #GuardiansofMobility #SustainableMobility #PoznanUniversityofTechnology #PolitechnikaPoznańska #CyclingInTheCity #UrbanTransport #Sustainability #MobilitySolutions

Today is World Bike Day and it’s appropriate that I’m in the center of Paris, a city that’s undergoing what is perhaps the most ambitiously rapid transition from car dominated city to bike city. Paris is actively transforming its urban mobility at a pace like no city before. The “Plan Vélo 2021-2026” involves a €250 million (about $A400 million) investment to expand cycling infrastructure, aiming to convert temporary lanes from the pandemic into permanent fixtures and add over 130 kilometers of protected lanes. The result of this unprecedented investment has seen a remarkable doubling in bicycle usage on Parisian streets between October 2022 and October 2023. Doubling in one year! That’s unprecedented in any city let alone one the size of Paris. Now around 30% of trips by locals in Paris are taken by bicycle. This is extraordinary given bicycle modal share still sat under 5% in 2019. By some reports, bicycle use now exceeds car use in Paris [walking and public transit are first and second]. The “Code de la Rue” initiative has also led to a 40% decrease in car traffic and a 45% reduction in pollution. I love that Paris has come so far so quickly because it shows that with the right investments any city can do it. It is a choice. If cities are serious about sustainability and a quick transition to a low carbon future then we all need to follow the lead of Paris. In contrast Perth is only building around 18km of new bike lanes a year. At the current rate Perth will not have a complete bike network until 2110! So here’s to World Bike Day and to choosing sustainable and liveable cities.

In today's world, combating carbon emissions is paramount — and using a bike might just be the pedal-powered solution we need 🚴♂️ According to a study led by researchers from the University of Oxford’s Transport Studies Unit: cycling, e-biking or walking can help tackle the climate crisis – even if you swap the car for active transport just 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 a week. So, if utilizing a bike can make that much of an impact, let's talk #bikesharing. Bike-sharing, also known as bike rental or public bicycle sharing, allows users to access bikes conveniently from designated areas or docking stations, promoting sustainable travel alternatives. Future Transport-News pedals through some bike-sharing advantages and disadvantages here: https://loom.ly/Bq1oqis 💬 With these factors in mind, how can cities and businesses optimize bike-sharing systems for sustainable urban mobility?