Sunny Kodukula, 9 May 2012
What is the future of cycling?
There are cities that have high bicycling shares and there are cities that are aspiring to increase their cycling shares. My question is what is the next stage of evolution for bicycles is it bike sharing or electric bikes or something else?
Cornie Huizenga (Moderator), 10 May 2012Hi Sunny - good question - what would you like to see happen in your city so that you would cycle more.?
Carlosfelipe Pardo (Moderator) from Colombia, 10 May 2012While Sunny answers, I think ebikes will be part of the bicycle-like mode share inevitably, and the challenge will be in their proper regulation. The Dutch and German regulations are useful in that regard, but it's not very easy to apply them everywhere (i.e. nobody really cares about the kWs of an ebike or if it's assisted or has a throttle, which are the key issues). Another challenge will be with battery disposal.
I wouldn't think that public bikes (bike sharing) will be a "next step" but it may also be part of the future in most cities, since it covers specific travel needs that other transport modes can't cover.
And now, back to Sunny (and anyone else who would like to comment): what would you like to see happen in your city?
Sunny Kodukula, 10 May 2012In short, I would want my city (Visakhapatnam aka Vizag, India) first to develop cycling facilities. Call it old style, I think it is the crux for any city to have proper walkways and decent bicycle paths with out any obstructions. We should plan for bicycle and pedestrians in the same way we plan for cars i.e. wide paths, without obstructions and pot/man holes.
Cornie Huizenga (Moderator), 12 May 2012Hi Sunny - i like your emphasis on "no obstructions". I came across great you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr7LqHAoKqE which describes some of the problems that might occur if you build cycle lanes but do not enforce them.
Cycle Lanes of Delhi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr7LqHAoKqE
Sunny Kodukula, 15 May 2012Cornie, you correctly hit on the point. Enforcement is THE most important thing for the success. From your experience what do you think will make authorities in Developing cities do proper enforcement. Carlos, already pointed out "Corruption" as a deterrent. What else do you think deters officials from enforcing. Is it an "I dont care" ideology?
Cornie Huizenga (Moderator), 15 May 2012Hi Sunny - I am the moderator so I should be careful with having opinions :-). However - since you asked - it is very much a class issue. Since most people who cycle in India are of a different class than car drivers there is no sense of respect. In general people are more reluctant to treat their equals in a bad manner. This is what we see for example in Netherlands where all classes cycle and walk.
Ultimately it is self enforcement which will resolve the problem. There will never be enough police to enforce all the cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings etc.
One thing which I find intriguing is that someone who does not follow any traffic rule in India, China or Mexico suddenly becomes a very disciplined driver once you put him/her in a situation where people do follow rules.
Clarence Shubert, 10 May 2012Hi Sunny, It is usual that rich and politically powerful people drive cars so that is why the money goes to more roads and parking space for cars. Start working with poor community groups to bring political pressure to demand bike and foot paths along every road. It is only fair that the poor majority gets infrastructure suited to their needs. By the way, have they started making and using electric bikes on a large scale in India?
Carlosfelipe Pardo (Moderator) from Colombia, 11 May 2012I really like your input, Clarence. I think citizen participation is a very useful way to have better planning of a city and more infrastructure for cycling. Does anyone have examples of this? I would also like to know if India has many ebikes, though I suspect not yet (or at least not in the scale as in China).
Sunny Kodukula, 30 May 2012Great, sorry for keeping quiet. Absolutely agree with Clarence. Just to play the "Devils Advocate", in many develoing countries bicycles are perceived as transport for poor and people who ride a bicycle everyday want to stop riding it if their situation improves. Hoe can the morale of a "poor (in terms of income)" be lifted that they are doing a good job?