Untitled - Ministerstwo Rozwoju Regionalnego

is that the bicycle is quite simply the most mobile means of transport, capable of
getting through traffic jams, detours, roads closed to motor traffic and generally
allowing us to come “straight to the front door” of the chosen destination. It is
reliable (breakdowns are rare and delays nonexistent) and fast. With the same
amount of energy, we can travel four times the distance that we would cover on
foot. The area available for cyclists is sixteen times bigger and this tremendous
difference does not have a negative impact in terms of pollution, noise, taking
up land or costly investment. In urban conditions, the bicycle frequently turns
out to be a faster means of transport than the car, too (see Fig. 38).
Finally, one should also notice that the bicycle is a mode of transport available
to practically anyone - children, senior citizens, persons with no driving license
or those without access to public transport. It improves mobility and independence
of these social groups. Research carried in the United Kingdom has
shown that by driving our children to school we not only lose precious time, but
do not establish in them the healthy habit of physical exercise in the first place.
In this way we raise a generation where obesity and fragile bones are common.
In this respect, cycling to school is the optimum solution, obviously provided
there are safe cycle lanes and sufficient parking space.
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walking bus tramway car bicycle
Fig. 38. Comparison of travel speeds of various modes of transport in urban traffic. The bicycle frequently
proves to be as quick as the car (time measured “door to door”)
Source: “Cycling – the Way Ahead for Towns and Cities” European Commission 2000. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/cycling/cycling_po.pdf.