I am currently writing a book with the working title 'Why Transport Isn't Moving' (for UIT Cambridge www.uit.co.uk). A few of the chapters will deal with issues related to cycling.
The more you look into the broader questions of 'what causes what?' you realise that the typical question: what difference did policy X make? is almost always impossible to answer. Over the longer term, politics, infrastructure, culture and behaviour are all related to each other. It may, however, be possible, to approach a question from a different angle. One way of looking at the old chestnut about segregation versus 'cycling on normal roads' is to ask:
Are there any examples of cities in developed countries with high rates of cycling (e.g. over 20% modal share) which do NOT have an extensive network of segregated cycle routes?
A 'cycle route' is not the same as a 'cycle path' of course. 'Segregation' may take many different forms, including filtered permeability i.e. roads closed to through traffic except bikes. In several years of studying European 'cycling cities', I have never found an example of such an exception. I have never been to Japan. Osaka is the only city which appears in the international top lists. I understand there are few cycle paths, but pavement cycling is normal (tolerated though not legal). Osaka also has narrow historic streets where segregation is not needed. I can't find any English language literature about cycling in Japan.
Is anyone aware of any examples, or anything which has been written which might help to answer this question?
Best Regards
Steve Melia
Senior Lecturer
Transport and Planning
University of the West of England
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