Can bikes replace cars?
Dear Duy Phan,
just a short reply, as there is a big study running in Austria, executed by the "Österreichischer Verkehrsclub", in idependent research and lobbying institution for ecological, healthy and economic traffic systems. In their study it comes out quite well that the willingness of locals as well as tourists to use bike for traffic is very much connected to adequate bike infrastructure, as it exists e.g. pretty much in Vienna or Graz. There, most of the students and many other people are using the bike as it is simply more effectiv: faster than the car, no trouble with parking slots... But there is the safe infrastructure, and this supports the development of a bike culture.
In Bad Gleichenberg, there is a bad infrastructure for bikes, and there is only one cracy guy I know so far who is regularily using his bike even for bigt shoppings...
Guess, who?
Buy, Harry
Ceterum censeo mutationem climae esse vincendem.
(Incidentally, I think that global warming must be defeated)
Prof. (FH) Mag. Mag. Dr. Harald A. Friedl
Assoc. Professor for Sustainability and Ethics in Tourism
Institute for Health and Tourism Management
FH JOANNEUM - University of Applied Sciences
Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße 24
8344 Bad Gleichenberg, Austria
Phone office +43-316/5453-6725
Phone mobil: +43-699/191.44.250
eMail: harald.friedl@fh-joanneum.at
Web: www.fh-joanneum.at/GMT
Dear Duy, your picture of the traffic is looking sad and worrying. The possible solution could be to raise awareness of the development of cycling infrastructure and public transportation, in the final to try to change legal regulations. Maybe Seminars and workshops could help to engage more people in solving this problem.
Best, Adis
Adis Krdzalic
FH Joanneum
Institut für Bank und Versicherungswirtschaft
I think people would like to use bike more than now, but there is no sufficient infrastructure. Maybe the things are going to change soon. Byee
Duy thank you for the comment. It could be an important question that we can´t ignore here. Infrastructure development is a matter of government and not under the control of locals, but they can definitely impose this matter with various initiatives and require better infrastructure.
Biking is a more popular way to move in towns and cities, at least in shorter distance traveling and commuting. Towns and cities are promoting biking to avoid congestion and emissions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local people and visitors have avoided public transportation and chosen bikes in stead. However, the use of private cars in commuting has also risen. In the summer 2020 the popularity of city bikes rose as well as bike rentals. E.g. in July in Berlin it was impossible to rent a bike. They were all rented by Berliners and the few visitors visiting the city. The popularity of biking was very visible in Berlin - biking ways were partly congested and bike parkings close to attractions were full. It will be interesting to see what will happen next summer when, hopefully, it will be easier to travel again.