2. Cycling city

Melbourne will be a cycling city . The municipality's entire road network will be safe and attractive for cyclists of all ages. Bikes will become the mode of choice for private transport trips in the municipality, including for work, school, business and recreation.

Governments, business and people travelling to and within the municipality are recognising the benefits of cycling¹and cycling is on the increase. The number of peak hour city cyclists doubled from four per cent of all private vehicles in 2006 to eight per cent in 2007.² Plus, Melbourne's climate and gentle topography is well suited to cycling.

The most effective inner city mode of travel

The Municipality of Melbourne is dense with activity. Cycling can deliver the best mobility for the most citizens for the least consumption per capita of road space. Bicycles are a highly mobile, affordable, efficient, quick, non-polluting, healthy and socially stimulating form of private mobility. Because they are so small, bicycles are easy to park, providing door-to-door mobility. Bicycles are ideal for most inner city resident and worker trips (of less than 10kms). But bicycles are also increasingly used for longer commuter trips.

Reduce road congestion

Cycling is an efficient use of road space. A car driver moving at speed occupies around 100 times more road area than a moving cyclist. Increasing cycling in the inner city will reduce road congestion and also free up seats on local public transport.

The road network must be made safe for cyclists through lower general speed limits (30 km/h), well designed dedicated lanes and a program to educate drivers about inner city driving.

Road space consumption per person ³

The table above shows the amount of road space needed for individuals travelling via different transport modes and at different speeds. Cycling and walking use significantly less road space than cars.

Safe and healthy

Cycling, like walking is a very good for personal and public health. Cycling is also safe for other road users.

By contrast, motor vehicle traffic is very dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. It's also the biggest barrier to people taking up cycling. "Safety concerns were consistently found to be among about the most significant barriers preventing people from cycling. It was even found to be a concern for those that cycle regularly." ⁴ From practical and ethical perspectives it is essential that the municipality's roads be made safe for cyclists so that there is no risk of death or serious injury (see Smart city driving.)

Whole of network access

Like pedestrians, cyclists prefer to take the shortest, most direct route to their destination. Banning bicycle access to parts of the network reduces cyclists' mobility options and discourages cycling. All our municipality's road and path networks should be safe and accessible for cyclists.

A culture of slower cycling should be promoted, ensuring cyclists and pedestrians can safely share spaces such as laneways, malls and parks. Cyclists should also be provided with safe networks to adjoining municipalities. Cycling networks should be complemented by trip-end facilities (such as showers and changing rooms) to encourage cycling as a transport choice for both commuters and visitors.

Public bicycle rental system

This is a new way to use bicycles in the city. A bicycle rental system makes cycling easy, free and available to anyone- resident, workers, visitors - any time its needed. With a bicycle rental system, apartment dwellers would no longer need to own - or store - a bicycle. Bike stations could be integrated with key destinations and with the public transport system. Bicycle rental systems combine the traditional simplicity and efficiency of the bicycle itself with new internet-based rental systems. Most trips would be free. For Melbourne, the installation of such a system will be a major step forward in making inner Melbourne a bicycle friendly city. For an example of bicycle rental in action, the Velib in Paris is a successful model.

In the future, cycling will be one of the most popular ways to move around the inner city. The whole inner city road network will be substantially safer for all cyclists, and the municipality's cycling culture will be compatible with pedestrians. A public bicycle rental system will be installed throughout the inner city.

Global city ranking

• Copenhagen, Barcelona, Paris,
• Bicycle Account (pending expansion of this reporting model).

See also

• The impact of lowered speed limits in urban and metropolitan areas. Monash University Accident Research Centre - Report #276 2008 Authors: J. Archer, N. Fotheringham, M. Symmons & B. Corben
• Vision Zero - An ethical approach to safety and mobility - Claes Tingvall and Narelle Haworth Monash University Accident Research Centre. Paper presented to the 6th ITE International Conference Road Safety & Traffic Enforcement: Beyond 2000, Melbourne, 6-7 September 1999.
• Melbourne Bicycle Account, City of Melbourne, 2007
• Six suggestions from LA of ways to reduce traffic
• draft Melbourne CBD and Docklands Parking Plan

References

1 , 4 : Bauman A. Rissel C. Garrard J. Ker I. Speidel R. and Fishman E. (2008) Cycling: Getting Australia Moving: Barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling Cycling Promotion Fund, Melbourne.

2 : City of Melbourne (2007) Bicycle Plan 2007

3 : Litman, T. (2008) Evaluating Transportation Land Use Patterns, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 12 June 2008.

5 : City of Melbourne and Bicycle Victoria Bikescope Survey, available every year, reported in Melbourne Bicycle Account