1 Promotion of bike: the Dutch experience PIMMS TRANSFER MC 2009 Almada, 25 March 2009 Giuliano Mingardo

2 Why the Netherlands?

3 Proportion of journeys to work by bicycle (Urban Audit 2004): –12 out of the best 20 European cities are Dutch cities The average distance biked per person per day is 2.6 Km;

4 Proportion of journeys to work by bicycle: the best 10 cities 1 Groningen (NL) 37.00% 2 København (DK) 36.12% 3 Oulu (FI) 34.00% 4 Odense (DK) 33.74% 5 Leeuwarden (NL) 32.00% 6 Enschede (NL) 31.00% 7 Apeldoorn (NL) 29.00% 8 Tilburg (NL) 28.00% 9 Aarhus (DK) 26.98% 10 Umeå (SE) 26.00%

5 Bicycle use in the Netherlands

6 What is the secret? Conventional wisdom might suggest that culture, topology and climate are responsible for the success in the Netherlands; However, policies are the impetus for making cities either bicycle-friendly or car-friendly!

7 Bicycle policy in the Netherlands In the Netherlands there are two main policy documents for bicycle: –1994: ‘Sign up for a bike’ –2007: ‘Design Manual for bicycle traffic’ Both documents have been issued by CROW, the Knowledge Platform for Infrastructure, Traffic, Transportation and Public Spaces

8 Policies or guidelines? These manuals are guidelines; They are not a legislative or reglatory instrument! Nevertheless, the majority of Dutch municipalities use the guidelines published in these manuals!! They provide the information designers need to make the bicycle a fully fledged participant in the traffic and transport system.

9 Why the bicycle? For the user (cyclist): –It’s cheaper; –It’s healthier; –It’s reliable; –It’s comfortable; For the employer: –A bicycle rack is cheaper than a parking space; –Employees that cycle regularly are less sick than the average;

10 Cyclists are healthy people! TNO research among three large employers in the Netherlands: –1,236 employees; –64% regularly cycle to work; Main outcome: –Employees that cycle regularly are less sick; –The larger the distance they cycle the less they are sick;

11 Motives The most important reason to use the bike is health; The most important reason for not using the bike are: –Distance; –Weather; –Sweaty;

12 How to stimulate bike use? TNO survey among 879 HR managers: –48% actively stimulates bicycle use; –How? Providing facilities: showers and parking How could you stimulate cycling further? –Financial subsudies; –Better knowlege of the investment in cycling infrastructure; –Cooperation with professional organizations that stimulate cycling;

13 Erasmus University Rotterdam Modal Split employees

14 Erasmus University Rotterdam Reasons for traveling by car

15 Erasmus University Rotterdam Reasons for traveling by bike

16 Erasmus University Rotterdam Distance vs. modal split

17 Erasmus University Rotterdam Opinion about the monthly payment for parking the car

18 Erasmus University Rotterdam Modal Split students

19 Entrepreneur

20 E-bike

21 Main advantages: –Electric support; –You can bike at an average speed of km/h without being sweaty; –Increased speed = Increased distance Main problems: –Cost (approx. €2,000); –Safety; –Image?

22 What about parking and bicycles?

23 Rain sensor