This report looks at the system of alleys that exist in downtown Austin, Texas and proposes a way to integrate them into the open space network within the area by creating a series of alley connections. Through analysis of case studies from other cities and public space theories, alternative methods of use are suggested for implementation throughout the alley system, including “green”, activity based and pedestrian and bicycle priority throughways. The next steps needed to create a Downtown Alley Master Plan and begin alley renovations are also discussed. The renovation of spaces that typically contain unsightly uses and activities can help create attractive places for people to congregate rather than places that people generally avoid. / text

This project defines the potential benefits of bicycling in major Canadian cities; determines the role of cycling within sustainable urban development; and suggests recommendations for maximizing the benefits of cycling in Canadian cities. The first phase of the project involved a review of academic literature and analysis of documents for four city case studies: Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Ottawa, Ontario; and Toronto, Ontario. Information was analyzed and themed to develop recommendations to maximize bicycling in these cities. The research suggests Vancouver and Ottawa are two of Canada’s leading cities in cycling innovation. Analysis of city documents found that most cities create in-depth cycling master plans which are difficult to successfully complete. Phase two of the project involved a 5400 kilometer bicycling tour in the summer of 2010 from Vancouver to Toronto. During the tour, each of the four cities were visited for a period of five to seven days and observations were made on cyclist infrastructure, safety, promotional and educational initiatives, planning, policy and law, and unique features. Photography and semi-structured interviews with urban planners, government officials, and cycling advocates were utilized to gain a unique perspective of the major cycling issues and innovations within each city. The research and observation indicated that a focus on creation of complete cycling networks; enforcement of cyclist rights; promotion and education; incentives and disincentives to the use of motorized vehicles; efficient use of funds for cycling infrastructure; the examination of municipal level cycling master plan policy; recognition of economic benefits of cycling; and knowledge and experience sharing between Canadian municipalities can increase overall rates of cycling within a city. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-08-30 13:57:01.281

Amongst transportation professionals there is a motivation to increase the use of active transportation to achieve contemporary transportation engineering goals. This research describes a year-long GPS cycling study conducted in partnership by the University of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo Ontario. Data were collected from 415 self-selected cyclists, using two distinct data collection mechanisms. Data collected from GPS units revealed trip origins, destinations, and routes; the data also contain time stamps from which travel speeds can be computed. An online survey was administered to gather cyclists’ socio-economic information and household composition. The survey also collected responses to questions regarding preferences for cycling infrastructure and overall satisfaction. The trip data allow for several important conclusions. The average trip length observed in the study was 6.96 kilometers; utilitarian trips (i.e. non-recreational) constitute 92% of the observed trips. This suggests that cyclists are able to complete daily activities – commuting, shopping, etc. – with less overall travel than the general population. The trip data also suggests relationships between the propensity to cycle and land use patterns. Strong positive correlations are demonstrated between higher land use density and the number of cycling trips; moreover, cycling trips tend to be more direct in areas with traditional neighbourhood design. The time at which the trips were taken – predominantly the am or pm peaks – suggest that the cyclists’ mode choice results in lowering peak demand and, therefore, reducing regional congestion. Fewer and typically shorter cycling trips were observed during winter months, presumably as a result of less favorable climate. Participants in the study are typically higher-than-average earners and mirror the overall regional age distribution, although seniors and children were underrepresented. The cyclists in the study are predominantly male which may reflect an overall higher propensity to cycle amongst men compared to women. Cyclists’ households are more likely than the general population to own fewer cars than licensed drivers which may be interpreted as a cost saving opportunities for these households. Finally, the survey data suggests that the single largest impediment to increased cycling is a perception of poor safety for cyclists, particularly in terms of interactions with automobiles.

In order to adequately design for and promote safe and regular use of the bicycle as a form of active transportation, researchers and policy-makers alike would benefit from the input of practiced bicyclists. These lay experts possess unique experiential knowledge of local routes, gaps in the network and the degree of comfort afforded by different types of infrastructure. Furthermore, these individuals are adept at commenting on subjectively valuable aspects of bicycling, which may assist in informing promotion and marketing of this activity. This research draws on the knowledge of lay experts who regularly bicycle in Hamilton, Ontario. The objectives of this research were to identify and understand the challenges associated with bicycling in Hamilton, and to explore the subjective identities of Hamilton’s cyclists. A thematic analysis of 10 semi-structured interviews was conducted and the following themes were identified and explored: an array of physical, structural and social deterrents to bicycling exist in Hamilton; and the identities of Hamilton’s cyclists are complex, locally rooted and multidimensional in nature. Using a critical lens, with the help of the Social Ecological Model of Health and Identity Theory, this study draws the following conclusions: cyclists are well-equipped to critically evaluate the urban spaces through which they travel; cyclists may play an important role in encouraging non-users to take up bicycling; and cyclists and auto drivers may benefit from collaborating over mutually beneficial goals. Furthermore, while many individuals who ride bicycles do identify themselves as “cyclists” this terminology can be contentious and the identity is heavily rooted in cyclists’ local context. Although this identity is primarily experienced individually, a sense of community does exist; and the identity often spans beyond the simple action of riding a bicycle. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA) / In order to adequately design for and promote safe and regular use of the bicycle as a form of active transportation, researchers and policy-makers alike would benefit from the input of practiced bicyclists. These lay experts possess unique experiential knowledge of local routes, gaps in the network and the degree of comfort afforded by different types of infrastructure. Furthermore, these individuals are adept at commenting on subjectively valuable aspects of bicycling, which may assist in informing promotion and marketing of this activity. This research draws on the knowledge of lay experts who regularly bicycle in Hamilton, Ontario. The objectives of this research were to identify and understand the challenges associated with bicycling in Hamilton, and to explore the subjective identities of Hamilton’s cyclists. An analysis of 10 semi-structured interviews was conducted and the following themes were identified and explored: an array of physical, structural and social deterrents to bicycling exist in Hamilton; and the identities of Hamilton’s cyclists are complex, locally rooted and multidimensional in nature. This research emphasizes the contributions bicyclists have to offer social science literature and highlights the need for continual input and engagement with everyday bicycle users. This ongoing communication is important to adequately support and encourage regular and new bicycle users in practicing this healthy and sustainable means of transportation.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Title: The project of educational cycling trails in Protected Landscape Area of Eagle mountains  Objective The aim of this work is to create prject of three cycling trails, with three degrees of difficulty in eagle mountains area. The trails will be shown in information brochure with photos and information about this area. The brochure will be available in tourist information centre and online on some web page. Methods Analyzes of existing trails in this area, searching for information about interesting places, history and geografical points. Consulting and verifying this information with people from Eagle mountains PLA (Protected Landscepe Area) organization and interviewing locals about this area. Verifying trails by group of cyclists. Results The result of this thesis is a brochure with three bicycle educational trails in eagle mountains. The brochure contains maps, photos, cultural stops and other informatin about this area. Key words: Eagle mountains, educational trail, bicycling Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Title: The project of educational cycling trails in Protected Landscape Area of Eagle mountains Objective The aim of this work is to create prject of three cycling trails, with three degrees of difficulty in eagle mountains area. The trails will be shown in information brochure with photos and information about this area. The brochure will be available in tourist information centre and on ČD (Czech railways ) and CHKO (www.chko.cz) web pages for free download. Methods Analyzes of existing trails in this area, searching for information about interesting places, history and geografical points. Consulting and verifying this information with people from Eagle mountains PLA (Protected Landscepe Area) organization and interviewing locals about this area. Verifying trails by group of cyclists. Results The result is a brochure with three bicycle educational tracks in eagle mountains. The brochure contains maps, photos, cultural stops and other informatin about this area. Key words: Eagle mountains, bicycle track, protected area, bicysle trail, Educational trail

A growing consensus among planners and policy-makers is that the automobile-oriented city, one that dominates the American landscape, is no longer sustainable. Such concerns demand a search for ways to promote alternative forms of travel. To this end, this study employs a multiple linear regression analysis in order to determine the relationships between the share of public transit and walking/bicycle commuting and variables representing three categories: urban form measures, socio-demographic and household characteristics, and the presence of a transit-oriented development. These relationships were examined in thirteen metropolitan regions.

One of the top bicycling cities in the United States, Portland, Oregon has used a mixture of bicycle infrastructure to create a cohesive network for bicyclists. Building on their success, in 2010 Portland set forth on an ambitious path to envision their bicycle network in 2030. The primary goal of this plan is to attract the “Interested but Concerned” demographic of bicyclists through an increase of their bicycle boulevard network from 30 miles to 286 miles. However, there has been no direct link between bicycle boulevards and bicycle rates. Therefore, this study analyzes the influence of bicycle boulevards on bicycle-to-work rates using U.S. Census data with Geographic Information Systems data in concert with both ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions and a fixed effects (FE) regression. The OLS and FE models both indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between bicycle boulevards and bicycle-to-work rates.

Using qualitative interviews, this thesis examines bicycle and car politics in Toronto, Canada to understand: i) how automobility affects those engaged in contesting and supporting cycling initiatives; ii) why the installation of cycling infrastructure has been politicized; and iii) whether strategies used by cycling activists are effective. The paper concludes that contemporary cultural and economic values surrounding automobility are visible in those engaged in bicycle and car politics. Findings suggest that the politicization of efforts to install cycling infrastructure arise due to how these values manifest themselves in the political realm, and the interrelationship between a lack of coherent transportation policy, the institutionalization of automobiles in planning and a ward-based decision-making system that entrenches suburban and urban biases. Activist strategies could be more effective by moving away from a focus on cycling lanes to address cultural norms associated with automobiles and bicycles and by focusing on a ‘complete streets’ approach.