01473341

Component

In the last decade, cycling has increased rapidly in the central parts of Stockholm. At the same time, the decreasing trend in cycling seems to continue in the outer parts of the region. This paper explores the factors behind these trends. In the central parts, increased road congestion, transit crowding and improved cycle infrastructure have lowered the generalized cost of cycling relative to other transport modes; spillover effects seem to generate a positive spiral; and increased interest in physical fitness and changes in the relative prices of cars versus central residences are beginning to turn the bicycle into a high-status mode of transport. In the peripheral parts, on the other hand, increasing travel distances and sparser land use patterns combine to decrease cycling levels. The paper also finds that additional benefits of cycling investments often are small and base a discussion of cycling policy on this, arguing that the many advantages of the bicycle – speed, space-efficiency, low investment and travel costs, no external costs, health effects – means that it deserves more attention from spatial and transport planners. To achieve this, cycle promoters need to focus on the bicycle as a highly efficient means of transport, and not reduce it to a second-best remedy to obesity or climate issues.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANF20 Bicycle Transportation.

01470560

13-3628

English

18p

2013

Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Bicycle travel; Bicycling; Cyclists; Mode choice; Trend (Statistics)

Stockholm (Sweden)

Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2013 Paper #13-3628

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 5 2013 12:43PM