I'd concur with Richard Ballantine about Vancouver. Plus I would add
Victoria, Vancouver Island to that list of potential candidates. One of my
correspondents, a non-cyclist, regularly comments on the growth of cycling
all along Vancouver Island and it might be worth contacting the Victoria
Transport Policy Institute for a local insight.
http://www.vtpi.org
The principal of VTPI is well-known (but you'll notice I've forgotten his
name!).
Another group with a broad oversight of the US cycling scene is the
Thunderhead Alliance, based in Arizona.
http://www.thunderheadalliance.org
Contact is Sue Knaup.
The issue of influence of gradients is something that a detailed examination
of the cycling demonstration towns might explore, Brighton being an obvious
candidate (with Guildford, a town with similar topography and (up to a
point) demography s a reference base). CTC would be interested in helping
out with that one.
Regards
John Meudell
-----Original Message-----
From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul Rosen
Sent: 12 September 2007 19:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Fwd: [UTSG] Cycling and Terrain]
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [UTSG] Cycling and Terrain
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:44:59 +0100
From: Steve Melia <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Steve Melia <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Does anyone know of an example of a city or town with a hilly terrain
which has nonetheless succeeded in achieving a relatively high modal share
for cycling?
This question arose in discussion with a transport planner in Plymouth who
said one problem he frequently encounters is the view that it is a waste
of time promoting cycling there because of the terrain. I have heard
variations on the same argument in other circumstances.
Clearly terrain does exert a strong influence on propensities to cycle -
some studies have attempted to quantify this (eg Rodriguez & Joo). Some
cities such as Freiburg are deceptive in this respect, because they are
surrounded by mountains but the vast majority of the urban area where
cycling takes place is flat.
Is anyone aware of an example which would help my Plymouth contact to
refute that argument?
Steve Melia
University of the West of England
RODRIGUEZ, D.A. and JOO, J., 2004. The relationship between non-motorized
mode choice and the local physical environment. Transportation Research
Part D: Transport and Environment, 9(2), pp. 151-173.
--
Dr Paul Rosen
Research Fellow
Stockholm Environment Institute, York
University of York
Heslington
York YO10 5DD
Tel.: 01904 434577
Mobile: 07984 077106
Email: [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask]
URL: http://www.sei.se/index.php?page=staffbiog&staffid=Y34
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