Cycling in Large and Mega Cities: Rio - London Face to Face

14 Feb, 2018
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In the last article we examined the general topic of planning bike friendly cities. In particular, we focused the attention on the fact that the urbanization process requires to adopt urgent solutions in order to tackle thorny issues such as population growth, increasing pollution levels and inefficient or overcrowded transportation systems. Megacities are fundamental case studies to analyze the role of cycling in solving traffic and transportation problems. Velo-city 2018 awaits you all from 12 to 15 June in Rio to keep debating on the subject and seeing with your own eyes what does it mean cycling in a megacity. 

The term ‘mega-cities’ is used to define metropolitan agglomerations with more than 10 million of inhabitants. At the moment (data from 2016), there are 47 cities (considering the metropolitan area) with more than 10 million of inhabitants and the first 40 of them form an association called C40. C40 comprises also other 50 of the greatest world’s cities, representing over 650 million people. The future is set in those mega (and soon giga) cities, these metropolises show us where urban development is leading us and how we can plan and organize transports, energy and economies. The answers about planning sustainable cities and active mobility cannot derive only from small cities as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, but great deal also depends on mega-cities.

Planning cycling megacities mean adapting fast growing urbanization processes to the needs of commuters. “A city where everyone can move freely at no extra cost, where commutes aren’t ruined by pollution and overcrowding[1].

Among C40, all but 8 of them are in developing countries, “the quality of life for hundreds of millions will be partly determined by the ease with which they can travel and commute through densely-populated, sprawling conurbations[2]. Mayors, urban planners and politicians around the world are desperately looking for solutions that can relieve cars pressure on the roads. However, especially in the developing countries, many times the problem for ‘cyclist’ is “the idea of who ‘cyclists’ are. Until the idea of a cyclist as the sports person or as a poor man is removed from the equation, very few authorities are going to support cycle oriented development[3]. In developing countries bicycle is already a widespread mode of transport, especially amongst the poor, but there is not or insufficient infrastructural support. Moreover, it is clearly emerging a divide between the ramshackle bicycles of poor and the shiny BMXs, road bikes and E-bikes of middle and high classes. The result is that cycling infrastructures are often designed for fun and sport activities, instead of being functional transport arteries. The lack of infrastructures is also a deterrent for many people to use bicycles every day who feel highly unsafe.

The city of Rio de Janeiro, even though is not recognized as a megacity when compared to São Paulo, has almost 13 million inhabitants and it can claim to have one of the largest cycle networks in the country with 418 km of cycle lanes[4]. Although the city needs to face serious congestion problems (especially during rush hours) and high pollution levels, there is a raising attention about cycling. In this regard, Rio can count on a solid and combative community of NGOs and civil society that are promoting cycling as an alternative mode of transport, a proactive municipality and an expanding cycling culture. The symbol of the ‘fight’ towards a more sustainable transport model is the decision to organize car-free Sundays in certain areas of the city. The municipality also supported the initiative “Rio Capital Bike Program”, a program to mitigate gas emissions and promoting alternative mode of transports.

The close link to cycling is also evidence by the fact that every day in Copacabana alone (South-Zone of Rio) 11.000 deliveries are made by bike. Changes are also occurring in terms of safety initiatives; Transporte Ativo (one of the most influential bike organizations in Rio) strongly promoted along with the municipality the extension of 30 km/h zones in order to guarantee cyclists’ safety. Even if critical situations still remain, as for example insufficient cycle paths, dangerous intersections, car-oriented road signalling and armed attacks against cyclists, there is an optimistic outlook for the future. The number of cyclists is constantly increasing[5] and the enthusiasm for cycling (also amongst tourists) stands out from the success of the bike sharing system (5.6 million trips as of 2016), the very first in the whole southern hemisphere.

Rio de Janiero, Brazil

On the other side of the Atlantic, the British capital, the largest European city with almost 14 million inhabitants, is making important investments to promote cycling as a real alternative mode of transport. “In particular since 2000, has started its own ‘cycle revolution’ in order to make the physical and cultural changes required to a megacity to become a cycling city[6]. In the last decade the number of cyclists increased by over 130% and forecasts predict that in the next few years cyclists will outnumber drivers entering central London during rush hours[7]. Following the implementation of the strategy “Vision for Cycling in London”, in 2017 was launched the “Mayor of London’s plans for Healthy Streets”, which aims at “helping Londoners use cars less and walk, cycle and use public transport more[8]. The document envisages also the target of expand the London’s network of cycle paths (London Cycle Network), which include already different infrastructures as Superhighways and Quietways routes.  However, all that glitters is not gold. “The streets of London are far from being a safe place for cyclists”[9]. There are still many parts of the city without cycle paths and cyclists are forced to share the road with cars, vans, trucks and buses. In particular, roads junctions represent a real threat for cyclists’ safety. According to the last Collisions and Casualties on London Roads Annual Report (2016) the number of cyclists injured amounted at 4.424[10], which is still a too high number.

London, United Kingdom

TO BE CONTINUED…

Do you want to know more about cycling in Rio and London? Let’s continue the discussion in the next Velo-city 2018. Along with these two cities, you will discover more about the achievements, the problems (often common ones) and the solutions of several megacities, as Mexico-City in South America, and other all over the world.  

[1] See http://citiscope.org/partner/2016/lessons-cycling-megacity

[2] See http://www.eco-business.com/opinion/lessons-for-a-cycling-megacity/

[3] See https://www.designboom.com/technology/charles-palmer-interview-cycling-megacities-2015-riba-norman-foster-travelling-scholarship-11-29-2015/

[4] Take a look at the articles https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/rio-de-janiero-and-bicycles and https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/ciclo-rotas-centro-idea-  collectively-planning-better-city

[5] Take a look at (only in Portuguese) https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/bairros/cresce-numero-de-entusiastas-do-ciclismo-na-zona-sul-19796328

[6] See file:///C:/Users/velo-city.ECF/Downloads/CyclinginaMegacity.TheCaseofLondon.pdf

[7] See http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-35475318

[8] See http://content.tfl.gov.uk/strategic-cycling-analysis.pdf

[9] See http://www.bbc.com/portuguese/noticias/2013/05/130503_ciclismo_londres_fl

[10] The number of fatalities decreased of 20% in the last 10 years. 

 

 

 

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