Two towns which come to mind are Vancouver and Bath. Vancouver has big,
Bath has steep. I seem to remember big hills in Portland (Oregon, USA),
too. All cycling-good towns. It is pretty hilly around Northampton, MA
USA, a town known as the 'Athens of the East' because it has some five
major universities, and of course, lots of cyclists.
After you've died a few times climbing hills, you get better at it.
- Richard Ballantine
On 12 Sep 2007, at 19:43, Paul Rosen wrote:
> -------- 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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