Animated maps of bike traffic habits

http://vimeo.com/19982736

Via the Bike-sharing blog, an animated video of "Boris Bikes" (as the BIXI bikes in London, UK have been nicknamed after Mayor Boris) by Dr. Martin Austwick at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis - University College London - being used in one day when the London tube was on strike.

As mass transit goes, one can see the expanded possibilities for short trips over a wide area.

And mapping from just one cyclist over 4 years, via OpenFile. James Redekop mapped his GPS recordings, showing the tracing of his every movement by recumbent for almost twelve thousand kilometres through Toronto's streets, paths, and trails from 2004 to 2009.

James looks like he's a downtown commuter, like many of us, combined with many far-reaching recreational rides up Toronto's river valleys, Beltline trails, waterfront trails and island jaunts.

herb : 14 years 2 months ago
Tags: bikesharing, gps, map, traffic

Sign petition for separated bike lanes in downtown Toronto

Sign the separated bike lanes petition if you are interested in seeing a leap forward in appropriate infrastructure for cyclists downtown. Councillor Minnan-Wong, head of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, had presented the idea to the media last month. It's not a done deal by any means since local Councillor Vaughan and residents need to be on side, and some public consultation is already going on to change some streets such as Richmond/Adelaide. The petition calls for pilot projects to being in 2011. If that is politically possible it would give us a good idea of the options and would be reversible if not a good idea.

The final plan might look sort of what is described here and here. There will be plenty of time and space for public consultation to figure out the exact details, so sign if you approve of this in principal.

To: All City Councillors and Mayor's Office

I support the immediate implementation of a connected separated bicycle lane infrastructure with pilot projects beginning in 2011. This single step can greatly enhance the safety and efficiency of Toronto streets at a very low cost.

I support the proposed plan for lanes to be installed along Sherbourne, Wellesley/Harbord, St George/Beverley/John/Simcoe, and Richmond to provide a completed circuit around the downtown core.

Separated bicycle lanes have been proven to be a low cost way to improve roadway efficiency for all street users. They will protect thousands of Toronto cyclists from collision with automobiles and while also further protecting pedestrians by creating a safe barrier between automobiles and the sometimes tight sidewalk spaces. Separated lanes reduce the perceived need for cyclists to ride on sidewalks out of self-preservation. More Torontonians will feel safe cycling, adding to the cities transit infrastructure capacity with minimal capital investments.

Myth versus the reality of cycle tracks: calm comfort in Holland

This video, made by David Hembrow, a British citizen in The Netherlands, shows the growing chasm between the critiques of "vehicular cyclists" and the reality of cycling infrastructure, particularly when we can see the best in the world. Many of their critiques are only relevant to the poor bike paths built in certain locales such as California in the 1970s. And the relevant critiques such as the risk of intersections have been addressed in different ways to create the safest cycling cities in the world.

A video that I got via TCAT from markenlei goes into greater detail on how the Dutch have dealt with intersection conflicts to improve the safety of cyclists.

The criticism against separated bike infrastructure is becoming increasingly muted, though there are still pockets in the UK and North America. Increasingly, however, planners are adopting Dutch and Danish practices and installing much better infrastructure in Portland, NYC, San Francisco, Vancouver, Montreal and elsewhere.

Meanwhile folks like Hembrow and Copenhagenize continue to sway people's opinions with straighforward examples of what is possible. One such "anti-segregationist" switched teams because of the evidence. Here in Toronto folks like James at The Urban Country has been doing a good job showing the folly our own prejudices, even in bicycle-friendly Montreal.

herb : 14 years 3 months ago
Tags: bike infrastructure, bike safety, cycling infrastructure