Urban cycling

Urban cycling consists of the use of the bicycle as a means of urban transportation, generally for short distances. Due to the proliferation of the automobile after the Second World War, which caused the gradual congestion of urban traffic and the invasion of public space, the bicycle became one of the main alternatives to improve the livability of the city. Some of the countries that have progressively used urban cycling as a major means of transportation are India, China, Cuba, North Korea. Urban cycling is also common in many European countries, mainly in the Netherlands, Denmark and France.

The bicycle is probably the most common means of urban transportation in the world. Another interesting fact is that the bicycle is the second most used means of transport after walking. The number of bicycles in the world is unknown, although it is estimated that there are more than one billion. In addition, it appears that there are significantly (more than twice as many) bicycles produced as automobiles.

To promote urban cycling, the UN declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day, recognizing the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and which constitutes a means of transportation sustainable, simple, affordable, reliable, clean and ecological that contributes to environmental management and benefits health.

Advantages of urban cycling

Health advantages

• It poses relatively little danger to other citizens.
• Improved health in individuals is positively reflected in public health. Its use by large sectors of the population brings with it a decrease in health costs. A study carried out in Denmark over 14 years and analysed 30,000 people between 20 and 93 years of age. Those who used the bike daily to go to work decreased their mortality rate by 40%.
• Moderate cardiovascular exercise in daily routines benefits health in general, providing protection against heart disease and some types of cancer, as well as reduction in obesity rates.
• It does not provoke stress or aggressiveness; on the contrary, it favors sociability and makes every displacement a walk from which you can enjoy pleasant sensations.

Economic advantages

• Low cost (technical maintenance) compared to any other public or private transport.
• Low cost of public investment.

Advantages in quality of life

• It has been shown that aerobic exercise improves the cardiovascular system. The heart and the circulatory apparatus make up the cardiovascular system. The heart acts as a pump that drives blood to the organs, tissues and cells of the body. Blood supplies oxygen and nutrients to each cell and collects carbon dioxide and waste substances produced by those cells.
• It has also been shown that aerobic exercise improves self-esteem and reduces symptoms of depression.
• Urban cyclists generally enjoy greater productivity in their jobs, and a good balance during the day.
• It promotes civics.

Advantages for the environment

• Urban cycling does not produce any kind of air pollution.
• It barely produces acoustic contamination.
• During the manufacture of a bicycle, less natural resources are consumed than in the manufacture of a car, which also has a lower impact on the environment.

Advantages over cars

• In congested cities and for distances up to 5-7 km, the bike is the fastest means of transport. This data can be seen in the study By bike, to cities without bad smoke.
• It occupies less public space than motor vehicles. As a medium term, a car uses the space of eight bicycles.
• There are no parking problems; anywhere there is a bicycle: in a parking space of a car, plus the corresponding accessories, there are a dozen bicycles.
• From the point of view of traffic and road safety, a decrease in the number of cars circulating around the city and an increase in the use of the bike, would improve traffic fluidity and could solve many jam problems.

Disadvantages of urban cycling

A diverse amount of objections have been generated towards those who use an alternative means of transportation. Although many of these concerns are not entirely founded, most have been resolved in one way or another by those who are committed to urban cycling.

Distance

Distance is one of the limiting factors for urban cycling. The distance over which a person may be prepared to travel and the distance over which it may be more or less convenient varies from person to person, as factors such as age, complexion, personality and location directly affect. London and Boston are examples of cities that offer bicycle-subway modal integration. In this sense, the combination of the bicycle and the metro or commuter train is very convenient since it enhances, on the one hand, the railway's ability to cover long distances with efficient use of energy and, on the other hand, it allows people sensitive to use of the bicycle, use it as a means of approaching the stations, where they park their bicycles, and continue on their way. There is also the possibility of folding bicycles that can be carried on board trains.

Security

• The risk of stealing a bicycle compared to a motor vehicle is higher because of the ease with which it can be transported.
• For some strange reason, vandalism is bare on bicycles rather than on motor vehicles.
• As a result of the lack of road safety, some cyclists share space with the pedestrian.
• Urban cycling is perceived as more dangerous for the cyclist due largely to the presence of heavier and faster motor vehicles. However, the percentage of deceased cyclists is usually lower than that of motor vehicles (Costa Rica 10% of traffic deaths, Germany 8%)
• The streets of most cities are not optimized for the bike but for motor vehicles.

Loading luggage

The carrying and storage capacity of a bicycle is less than that of most motor vehicles. For this reason, rear racks, messenger bags, modifications, trailers and other types of accessories are used that can be used to increase the carrying capacity of bicycles, although perhaps the easiest way is by using backpacks. The main problem with the backpack is that it causes an overload of weight on the back, which can cause pain and various postural problems depending always on the weight of the backpack and the time in which it is used, in addition to producing greater sweating on the back..

Personal hygiene

Cycling involves certain physical activity that can be more or less intense depending on the speed. If you pedal intensely, sweating and the possible consequent problem of body odor are encouraged, which can generate difficulties regarding dress codes. In order to be presentable at the workplace after a bike ride, there are several techniques including: showering at the workplace; get off after the trip and put on clean clothes; or simply pedal at a slower pace. Some cyclists carry tissues or clean clothes to clean themselves and change when they arrive at their workplaces. In those cases where there is no shower available, some choose to wear woolen or synthetic fabrics that avoid keeping sweat on the body, thus avoiding bad odor.

In general, it is enough to make the same effort as if you were walking to avoid sweating. This is easily achieved thanks to the gears that most bicycles have.

Urban infrastructure

Due to the proliferation of the vehicle in the middle of the last century, cities began to be designed for the benefit of the automobile industry and therefore, it has created inhospitable urban areas with reduced mobility for pedestrians, and thus, impoverishing the urban environment. Most cities lack sufficient infrastructure for cycling and to guarantee the safety of users. Today, a city that does not have infrastructure projects that encourage the use of bicycles will be harmed.

The bicycle in the city

Any bicycle can be suitable for use in the city, although more sporty ones may be more inappropriate. With the popularization of mountain bikes, it is not uncommon to see them circulating in the city, although as their name indicates they were designed for another environment. The most common bicycles in urban areas are the touring bicycle, which maintains an upright position, the hybrid bicycle (hybrid between mountain and road, a bit all-terrain), folding bicycles that allow the bicycle and public transport to be more easily combined. at the same time it reduces the problem of storing the bike in a small apartment and the fixed gear bicycle, initially intended for velodrome tracks, but very common among bike messengers in New York, although in this case, with a front brake.

Frequent accessories on urban bicycles tend to be:

• Lights: Lights for greater visibility of both the cyclist and the drivers towards the cyclist. Depending on the legislation they can become mandatory at night or in tunnels. (see →)
• Locked: Some anti-red system, the simplest one chain and a lock, the safest the large locks in the form of U (or D, as seen), but also the locks of wheels, etc. (see →)
• Grill: Supports for carrying lumps (cestas, pads or backpacks) and even young children.
• Rangers: Not to splash if the soil is wet.
• Goat or horseback: To be able to support her if there is no lamp nearby.
• Covers: To prevent the bottoms of the pants from hooking up with the chain or blemishing.
• Sillines: With suspension springs or gel for greater comfort. (see →)
• Timbre: You must bear in mind that both drivers and pedestrians may not have seen you, whistles or bells are legitimate methods to signal your presence. (see →)
• Tacos: They consist of 2 short iron rods that place one on each side of the axis that holds the rear wheel and serve to allow two people to be transported more comfortably (one sitting pedaling and driving and another standing on the heels). They are common in Colombia and Venezuela, where they are mainly used by young people to transport themselves to college or university or mobilize for short distances in the city.

In addition, the driver may require certain personal equipment:

• Clothing: During the corresponding seasons, wear a good waterproof hunter (or poncho) for occasional rain protection. Many of the existing light models can be folded to a pocket size when no posts are worn.
• Sunglasses: A visor or sunglasses to avoid the sun in the eyes or reflections, while protecting the eyes from possible insects, dust, etc.
• Gloves or handplates: To avoid calluses in the hands, protection for cold temperature and wounds resulting from falls.
• Pants: to hold the bottoms of the pants, there are clips, ribbons with velcro, with rereaders or without them. The simplest and cheapest thing: to put the pants under the sock or the redouble pants, although aesthetically can be discussed.
• Reflective Elements or garments: Can be belts or vests, the use of car vests is common even if they are specific for cyclists. Although there are those who think that their use should be mandatory, this does not happen in the city, reserving the obligation of the reflective garment for intercity and nightways. Apart from garments, reflective elements can be ribbons, slippers or "cat eyes" on the wheels, pedals or rear of the bike, among other possibilities.
• Mask: Cyclists suffering from allergies or other lung diseases sometimes use mask to protect themselves from the contamination of cars in the city.

Driving

In the urban environment, a policy of segregating bicycles in cycle lanes dominates. These bike lanes are usually for exclusive use by cyclists, disabled vehicles and skaters. In some places, such as in Spain on interurban roads, it is mandatory to ride with a helmet. However, there are hardly any bike lanes. Other forms of protection are leather gloves, knee pads and elbow pads; These latter accessories are used especially in high-risk cycling modalities. Furthermore, in Switzerland, it is mandatory that the bike be covered by a very low-cost policy to be able to circulate.

Safety Tips for Cyclists in urban environments.

• Drive in a predictable way – Follow the same tracks as motor vehicles and without zigzaguear.
• Notify before moving or stopping – Signs with hands allow others to know what you're going to do.
• Drive defensively – Prevent the dangers and anticipate your movements and those of the rest of the vehicles within the traffic.
• Look back – Learn to see on your shoulder without moving the handlebar or losing balance. The use of mirrors is an option.
• Take your right – Always take the right in the sense of road flow. Going against the road flow in avenues of more than one lane is dangerous.
• Follow the marked lanes – Do not turn left from the right lane. Do not go ahead in an exclusive lane to turn right. Choose your lane in a timely manner.
• Approach the streets and intersections with caution – Always check the traffic that might exist before you enter a crossing.
• Stay visible to others – Use bright colors to be more visible and make contact with the look with the drivers.
• Avoid circulating on a bike on the sidewalk (acera) for several reasons: on the road cars are as dangerous for you as you for pedestrians on the sidewalk; depending on the municipal regulations may be prohibited (in Madrid children under 10 years are allowed, in Barcelona it is allowed whenever the speed of pedestrians is matched, etc.); it can become more dangerous at the junctions, because the drivers do not expect a lot more fast crossing.
• It obeys traffic signals (smugglers, signals and lanes) – Cyclists must follow traffic rules like any other vehicle.
• Avoid racing with other cyclists on the street.
• Tell other cyclists you're going to pass them somewhere.

Urban adaptation and equipment

Various strategies have been tried to help people feel more comfortable and safe when using bicycles in urban traffic environments. Some of these measures are:

Engineering:

• Cyclovia, routes for "exclusive" use of bicycles, may be segregated or integrated in traffic, and usually go through the road, although sometimes they run through the sidewalk.
• Pacification of urban traffic. Decreasing traffic and speed of motorized vehicles and reducing the space dedicated to them.
• Cycloparks and anchors for bicycles of quality and sufficient quantity.
• Structures to improve the advances, such as large outdoor lanes, to reduce frictions between cyclists and motorists.
• Authorization of transporting bicycles in public transport, such as the bus or metro. Currently, in Spain, it is forbidden to carry bicycles on long-distance trains, even if the bicycle is completely dismantled and within a case that meets the dimensions and regulatory weights.
• Lockers or garages for long-term parking of bicycles in train stations, airports, public buildings and other attractions.
• Opposition to certain forms of traffic calming (such as narrowing of roadways) and roundabouts, structures that increase the danger for bicycle users.

Education:

• Increase the education of all users (including children through special activities) on traffic regulations.
• Improve public awareness of appropriate behaviors for the shared use of the road.
• Aware entrepreneurs of the benefits of promoting and facilitating the use of the bicycle among their employees.

Law Enforcement:

• Equitable application of traffic regulations when cyclists are affected.
• Promoting respect for cyclists as full-fledged users of the public road
• Strengthening measures against theft, both legal and preventive (there are cities that have bicycle marking systems that facilitate identification in case of recovery after theft).

Promotion and facilitation:

• Public bicycle systems.
• Advertising and promotion campaigns.
• Mobile app design to calculate bike routes.

Public bicycle systems

The implementation of public bicycle systems in some cities, such as Copenhagen, Mexico City, Medellín and Buenos Aires free of charge for public use makes available to a group of users a series of simple and robust bicycles, without changes or with 3-speed internal gearboxes and an easily recognizable model, which deters thieves. These bicycles are generally anchored in specific parking spaces with systems similar to those of supermarket carts: they are unlocked by inserting a coin that is recovered when the bicycle is left again. In other cities there are partially subsidized bicycle rental systems so that the price is symbolic (bicing in Santander, Valladolid, Barcelona, Gijón, Avilés, Córdoba, Seville, Burgos, Miranda de Ebro, Terrassa, Valencia, Vic, Pamplona, Cartagena, Zaragoza, Lyon, Paris, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Vienna, London, Brussels, Oslo, Bergen, Milan.

In Spain, the city of Vitoria was the first to launch, in 2004, a free public bike loan system. Currently, the free system will likely change to a paid system, but providing 24-hour service. of the day.

In Barcelona, the Bicing service was implemented on March 22, 2007 with 14 stations, 200 bikes and just over 250 users. The success has been such that within a year the service had 276 stations, more than 3,500 bicycles and 115,000 users. In May 2008, the network already had 321 stations and more than 4,000 bicycles. The service continued to expand until reaching 400 stations and 6,500 bicycles in the summer of 2008, and next year it will be extended to a large part of the metropolitan area of Barcelona with 440 more stations and 3,520 bicycles, although it is not known if the system would be compatible.

In Seville, in July 2007, the SEVICI service, managed by JCDecaux, was launched, with 250 stations and 3,200 removable bicycles 24 hours a day, every day of the year. There are two types of subscription: the weekly subscription, which can be obtained instantly at any season, and the annual subscription. In the same city, the Metropolitan Transport Consortium of the Seville Area has launched a new pilot plan called "BUS + BICI" to encourage the combined use of public transport and bicycles, providing free public bicycles to users of the metropolitan public transport that accesses Seville from its metropolitan area using the Consortium's bus tickets. Users only need to present a bus pass canceled that day and their ID. After signing a simple contract, they have a public bicycle to travel around Seville from 8 in the morning until midnight, from Monday to Friday.

Albacete, Ciudad Real and Talavera de la Reina have the onroll system, which is through SMS, eliminating the traditional card.

In Medellín (Colombia) the EnCicla program was implemented at the beginning of 2012, through which free loans of bicycles are made to circulate around the city. There are EnCicla stands in various Metro stations and strategic places in the city center and sports units. The program has been well received among the inhabitants of the capital of Paisa, who use bicycles to move efficiently through the flat parts of the city and sometimes to go down the surrounding hills at good speed.

Bogotá is another city that is trying to implement a transportation system service through Bicycles thanks to the idea of city councilor Carlos Orlando Ferreira Pinzón, who has already filed a draft agreement to allow the implementation of the system in the Colombian capital.

In Mexico, apart from the Ecobici system, there is a program called Mejor en Bici, which provides free bicycle loans. Anyone can go to any of the stations located in Mexico City, Playa del Carmen and Guadalajara, leaving a deposit of $200 pesos and an official identification, which are returned when the bicycle is delivered.

In Argentina, the cities of Buenos Aires; EcoBici and La Plata; La Plata en Bici implemented these services in 2010 and 2013 respectively under the Sustainable Mobility Plan of both cities.

In Ecuador, the city of Quito; BiciQ implemented this service in the 2012 Mobility Plan for the Metropolitan District of Quito,

For cities interested in developing a public bicycle system, a methodological Guide for the implementation of public bicycle systems has been published by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving.

To work and studies by bicycle

Promoting the use of bicycles for daily travel and for work and study is economically profitable, commercially sound and ecologically sound in helping to solve problems related to environmental protection, traffic congestion and personal health and public health. Thus, almost 25% of Dutch people go to work by bicycle.

The initiatives adopted in this regard in recent years by the central administration of regional and local governments, and private companies in several countries in the European Union and outside it, have given very positive results. Not only has the great potential of using the bicycle for personal travel and transportation been demonstrated, it has also encouraged the bicycle industry, created jobs and reduced business costs associated with parking for cars and to absenteeism from work due to illness.

Going to work by bicycle with a suit on is feasible when it comes to short, easy trips in dry weather, and generally in cities with traditional infrastructure for pedestrians, in any other case that requires more vigorous exercise, it is It is advisable to wear more comfortable clothing. In this regard, some initiatives are emerging that aim to manufacture and market appropriate clothing capable of combining urban cycling with the fact of being dressed as the occasion demands for the rest of the day. These are garments, street clothing and accessories with technical characteristics and details that make pedaling more comfortable and fill the gaps that clothing designed solely for walking might have when riding a bicycle.

The bicycle messenger

Bicycle couriers (also known as cycle-messengers or bike-messengers) are people who work for "courier companies" providing a courier service specialized in the collection and delivery of shipments, correspondence and other postal objects.

Cycle messengers or bicycle messengers are most frequently found in the central business districts of metropolitan areas. Courier companies use bicycle couriers as they are less subject to unexpected traffic jams and congestion in the city, thus offering a predictable delivery time.

These seasoned cyclists, athletes for whom riding around the city on a bicycle is a sport, involves a risk when making daily trips of about 100 km on their bicycles, being a cycle messenger is not only an absolutely demanding job, it is a style of life and a subculture. For couriers, time is money, the more deliveries they make, the more money they earn. They need to be in good shape, fast, skilled on the machine and have a natural sense of direction.

Courier bicycles have to be light, fast, agile, safe and generally single speed bicycles for minimum maintenance and mechanical simplicity. Road bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, BMX and track machines inspired by velodrome models are the favorites, although contrary to popular belief, fixed gear bikes, known as fixed gear, are ridden by a minority of bicycle messengers outside of New York.

Currently, in some cities with rugged topography, they have begun to use electric bicycles that allow them to carry more weight and improve their performance.

Cycling activism

Cycling activism consists of ensuring that cycling acquires the rights it deserves. Transportation in the West is politically dominated by the automobile, which is supported by pressure groups through contributions to political parties. At the behest of these pressure groups, roads and cities are built for cars, and to satisfy the great demand, tariffs and taxes are established, resulting in a massive subsidy to car transportation at the expense of everyone, creating unsustainability.

"The cultural impact of cars, motorcycles and trucks is destroying the only planet in the universe that human beings can sustain. So park the car, pull the key and do your part to put an end to the war against terrorism: ride a bike» Anonymous.

Urban cyclist associations

In some cities around the world, urban cyclists gather in groups to promote the use of the bicycle as a sustainable means of transportation, spreading its environmental, social and economic benefits, demanding the need to develop cycling infrastructure. A common name that these groups take is the association of urban cyclists based on their city of origin, and cities such as Buenos Aires, the province of Mendoza, Madrid, San Sebastián and Johannesburg, have similar groups, which are constituted as non-governmental organizations.

Critical Mass

This name refers to bicycle rides, generally monthly, by urban cyclists to celebrate and promote the use of bicycles. The name comes from the film "Return of the Scorcher" by Ted White, which showed a phenomenon that occurs in China. Given the absence of traffic lights and the emergence of motor vehicles, in order to cross large avenues, cyclists stop and wait until there are enough of them to be able to cross all together safely. This phenomenon was called "Critical Mass."

In 1992, a collective walk with that name was organized in San Francisco and since then the initiative has spread to many cities around the world.

Although it varies greatly from one city to another, the basic mottos are: "use your bike daily, celebrate monthly" and "we don't block traffic, we are traffic."

Media

The rise of urban cycling has brought the proliferation of different publications, both printed and online, related to this practice. Some references in English are Momentum Mag, published in the US and Canada, and Urban Velo, which ceased to exist in 2014. In Spanish, the free magazine Ciclosfera stands out, born in 2012 and with more than 400,000 followers in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil or Argentina.