No description available.

Cycling is an underutilized mode of transportation in cities across North America. Numerous factors contribute to low ridership levels, but a key deterrent to cycling is concern for personal safety. In an effort to increase cycling mode share, many cities are investing in cycling infrastructure, with several cities constructing connected bicycle networks. Monitoring the impact of new infrastructure is important for accountability to citizens and to encourage political will for future investments in cycling facilities. A lack of spatially continuous ridership data and methodological challenges have limited monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of infrastructure changes. The goal of our research was to demonstrate spatially explicit approaches for monitoring city-wide changes in patterns of safety and ridership following improvements to cycling infrastructure. To meet our goal, our first analysis demonstrated a method for monitoring changes in the spatial-temporal distribution of cycling incidents across a city. We compared planar versus network constrained kernel density estimation for visualizing cycling incident intensity across the street network of Vancouver, Canada using cycling incidents reported to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. Next, we applied a change detection algorithm to detect statistically significant change between maps of kernel density estimates. The utility of the network kernel density change detection method is demonstrated through a case study in the city of Vancouver, Canada where we compare cycling incident densities following construction of two cycle tracks in the downtown core. The methods developed and demonstrated for this study provide city planners, transportation engineers and researchers a means of monitoring city-wide changes in the patterns of cycling incidents following enhancements to cycling infrastructure. Our second analysis demonstrated how network constrained spatial analysis methods can be applied to emerging sources of crowdsourced cycling data to monitor city-wide changes in patterns of ridership. We used network constrained global and local measures of spatial autocorrelation, applied to crowdsourced ridership data from Strava, to examine changes in ridership patterns across Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada, following installation and closures of cycling infrastructure. City planners, transportation engineers and researchers can use the methods outlined here to monitor city-wide changes in ridership patterns following investment in cycling infrastructure or other changes to the transportation network. Through this thesis we help overcome the challenges associated with monitoring the impact of infrastructure changes on ridership and cycling safety. We demonstrated how network constrained spatial analysis methods can be applied to officially reported cycling incident data to identify changes in the spatial-temporal distribution of cycling safety across a transportation network. We also demonstrated how network appropriate spatial analysis techniques can be applied to large, emerging crowdsourced cycling datasets to monitor changes in patterns of ridership. These methods enhance our understanding of the city-wide impact of infrastructure changes on cycling safety and ridership patterns. / Graduate

Based on accident reports, oblique head impacts associated with rotational acceleration occur frequently in cycling. Rotational acceleration stimulates brain tissue strain resulting in mild to severe brain injuries. Current bicycle helmet standards test for linear acceleration, but not for rotational acceleration. The proposed standard (EN13087-11) by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the Angular Launched Impact (ALI) protocol are oblique test protocols which impart rotational acceleration to the head at three impact locations (Front_Y, Lateral_X and Lateral_Z). The CEN proposed standard drops the helmeted headform vertically onto a 45° steel anvil, while the ALI protocol launches the headform at an angle of 45° towards the steel surface. The CEN proposed standard may represent a cyclist falling vertically onto a curb, angled surface or motor vehicle. The ALI represents a cyclist skidding or falling over the handlebars and have been described as frequent-accident cases in the literature. Both protocols represent unique falling events in cycling which elicit distinct rotational head responses. The purpose of this study was to compare the dynamic head response and brain tissue deformation between the two oblique test protocols on two common types of cycling helmets (PVC shell-PU liner and ABS shell-EPS liner). The study revealed that falling vertically onto a curb, angled surface or motor vehicle (CEN proposed standard), resulted in a greater rotational head response and brain tissue deformation, compared to frequent-accident events of skidding or falling over the handlebars (ALI protocol). Linear and rotational acceleration were significantly less on the PVC shell-PU liner compared to the ABS shell-EPS liner on both oblique test protocols. Distinct impact vectors associated with unique falling events in cycling create different rotational head responses and brain tissue deformation. Helmet standards should consider incorporating oblique testing methods, to manage mild and severe brain injuries associated with frequent falling events in cycling.

Consumer-driven nutrient cycling has been shown to be an important process in supplying inorganic nutrients to autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Theory indicates that consumer nutrient excretion is influenced primarily by an organism's nutrient composition; however, an organism's diet should also play an important role in nutrient excretion, especially if the consumer is nutrient limited. This study asks the question, how does diet influence nutrient excretion of consumers at different trophic levels? Macroinvertebrates and fish were collected from six streams and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) excretion were quantified. Epilithon, leaf detritus, and seston (fine particulate organic matter in transport) were collected and analyzed for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) content in an attempt to qualitatively assess the nutritional status of the diet of primary consumers. Macroinvertebrates were also analyzed for C, N, and P content to assess their nutritional composition in relation to their excretion and also to assess the nutritional composition of the diet of predatory insects and fish. Fish were also analyzed for C, N, and P. Similar to theoretical predictions, fish and macroinvertebrate P excretion was negatively related to P content and the N:P excretion ratio was negatively related to the body N:P ratio. However, this relationship was driven primarily by two phosphorus rich species, mottled sculpin in the fish and crayfish in the macroinvertebrates. Some relationships did emerge between consumer excretion and diet. For example, hydropsychid caddisflies had the highest macroinvertebrate P excretion, possibly explained by the low N:P of seston. However, shredders, eating on a very low N and P diet of leaf detritus, had very low N and P excretion. The relationship between consumers, their food, and nutrient excretion is a matter of mass balance. If the food N:P ratio is higher than that of the consumer, then the N:P excretion should be higher than the consumer N:P and the food N:P, especially if organisms are P-limited. However, N:P excretion by macroinvertebrates and fish were very similar despite large differences in diet. The majority of macroinvertebrates and fish had a lower N:P excretion ratio than the predicted N:P of their food, possibly indicating that 1) consumers were either selectively consuming more P-rich foods than the diets that I assigned them or 2) consumers are generally not N or P limited or influenced by the N or P in their diet. Mottled sculpin and crayfish were the only organisms with a higher N:P excretion than their resources and both had a higher %P than the other fish and macroinvertebrates, respectively. High N:P excretion along with high phosphorus content is indicative of P-limitation. Macroinvertebrates and fish, excluding mottled sculpin and crayfish, had a lower N:P excretion and the N:P ratio of the water column. If consumers do play a role in nutrient dynamics, then consumers could alter the relative abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus by supplying more phosphorus. However, the presence of a P-limited organism, such as mottled sclupin or crayfish, could alter the relative abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus by supplying less phosphorus. / Master of Science

Master's thesis deals with the issue of supporting the development of cycling and cycling infrastructure in the Prešov Region, which is located in the east of the Slovak Republic. The work is divided into three chapters. The first is intended to explain the basic concepts of cycling as well as its division along with the legislation on the subject. The second chapter is devoted to the description of Prešov Self-Governing Region and especially cycling tracks in the area that is either in the planning stage or already under construction. Very important is also international cooperation with Poland in conecting cycling routes in the border. The last part of the thesis deals with the author's specific proposals related to the promotion of cycling tourism in the East Slovakia as well as the improvement of the cycling infrastructure in the region.

The Final Thesis deals with the evaluation of the benefits of the Elbe Cycling Path within the Giant Mountains Tourist Region. The teoretical part is explaining the basic terms of cycling, describing the infrastructure necessary for this activity and also organizations and institutions active in this area. Within one separate chapter there is a description of the Elbe Cycling Path including it's history. The practical part is focusing on particular section of the cycling path between Elbe spring and Dvůr Králové nad Labem. It is based on the results of the qualitative and quantitative research, both undertaken on the Elbe Cycling Path. The benefits are evalueted according to the results of the research and some measures are proposed to use the potential of the path in better way.

No description available.

No description available.

Urban bicycling is a big growing trend between men and women across the world. People seem to have become more aware of the numerous benefits of riding a bike, as well as more health oriented and environmentally friendly. Sweden is one of the countries with so called strong bicycle culture.  You can ride a bicycle almost anywhere, at any time of the year, and without spending a fortune. Cycling builds strength in a holistic manner since every single part of the body is involved in cycling. I choose to look into women cycling habit in Sweden. With my design I want to encourage woman’s cycling activity by offering comfortable design solutions to their clothing. The project focuses on the active years of a woman’s life, in average the age of 20- 45. The seasons considered are spring- autumn with the temperature range between 20°-5°C. The final design solutions will be applicable in the everyday life of a woman that is both looking to look fashionable and comfortable on the bike. The project intends to deliver a capsule collection where 3 to 5 outfits will be translated into 3D, prototyped and manufactured. One main reason for investigating such a matter is today’s very widely explored awareness of sustainability.  The project aims to encourage more sustainable design processes for the fashion market as well as eco lifestyle for women who choose to ride bikes instead of cars more often. It will propose a new possible design development process in which the user is more involved and can give some input, that way delivering a needed, better fitted and better sold product. The new design solution should satisfy the target group with a quality product that is not only comfortable and functional but also lasting for a long time. The final design will of course consider the esthetical feminine sophisticated look. Through this project I am looking to bring more comfort in the movement and functional detailing to non-sportswear. I want to investigate something apart from traditional sportswear, something that has not been considered much before; to incorporate functional sporty features and details to a more casual wear. I want to make use of special fabrics and develop new cuts, pockets, pleats and adjust patterns so that the final prototype would feel sporty but will look casual. Emphasis will be placed on developing understanding of fabric characteristics, accessing sources and knowledge and understanding of technological developments to inform innovative design. The purpose of the project is to develop a heightened awareness of the design methodologies available today that can be applied in fashion industry. This thesis will incorporate the traditional design development process applied in fashion and the user centered design method applied mostly in service and product design. Through research and prototyping, the aim will be to deliver a design that has been developed considering in a higher range user’s needs and preferences. User centred design is mainly looking to understand the user’s needs, wants and desires in order to improve the new design and human experience. When it comes to fashion, people are all individuals; they all have different needs and preferences. It is nearly impossible to try and satisfy them all, especially in mass produced fashions however the design development should in a way or another allow some user input. As little as suggestions on detailing, finishing features comfort and fit preferences could make a great difference for the success of the new design. Choosing to do a fashion project I initially wanted to investigate the problems with bad fit and uncomfortable women’s wear designs nowadays. With that in mind I was still missing a context, which clothes exactly and why. This is when I started to investigate specifically what women wear every day when riding bikes in the cities. Together with the city cycling trend, grows the demand for more comfort and function in the everyday clothes.  Clothing that can stay true to both performance and style is in big demand today as with clothes that look good both on and off the bike, there’s no need to have to change out of your cycling gear when you arrive at your destination. You can ride to work feeling comfortable and leave the office in style in the same set of clothes.

The thesis Consumer basket of cycling tourists in the Czech Republic deals with the creation of the consumer basket, which includes common expenses of cycling tourists during their cycling holidays and cycling trips in the Czech Republic. As part of the work was carried out a survey among Czech cycling tourists, whose results are analysed in the work.