Untitled - Ministerstwo Rozwoju Regionalnego

cannot secure a proper modal split from the point of view of sustainable mobility.
The renaissance of bicycle in well-developed countries results from a
number of innovative solutions in its design and new forms of bicycle traffic organisation
in big cities. In Chapter XII, Maja W³oszczowska, Polish Beijing
Olympics medal winner for mountain biking, answers the question “Why is it
rational to choose the bicycle as a means of transport and a way for a healthy
lifestyle?”.
In the late 20th century, we observed a real bicycle boom which led to
a large variety of these one-track vehicles. As a result, there are numerous kinds
of bicycles to choose from: mountain, road and track racing, touring, BMX or
classical city bikes. They differ from each other largely, and serve different purposes.
In shaping a sustainable structure of city transport, bicycles designed to
be of maximum use in commuting and recreation are most important; they must
be: • easy to use, park and maintain; • equipped with luggage carriers (most
preferably baskets); • suitable for riding up a slope (with modern reliable derailleurs);
• safe in heavy traffic (white front and rear lighting (retroflectors), chainguards
and mudguards, reliable kickstands).
Cycling innovations in big cities include also infrastructure facilities that enable
a considerable shift from car traffic to cycling (even in countries with cold
climate and long winters). Observations show that in Europe 30% of routes covered
by cars are shorter than 3 km, and 50% - shorter than 5 km, although in
such cases a bicycle is usually faster than a car. However, it must be easily available
everywhere, and there must be a dense cycle path network. Some cities in
the most highly developed European countries (Cambridge, Basel, Ferrara, Amsterdam,
Parma, Bern) managed to create conditions suitable for quite intensive
use of bicycles in urban traffic (15-33% of the total). It is possible to spread theses
examples, cycle paths, however, must be built not only on the outskirts (for recreation
purposes) but also along inner-city streets, where motor vehicles move
with a speed of over 30 km/h. The cycle lanes should be designed to form a coherent
system of connections, and their location should be accompanied by motor
traffic reduction, particularly in the very centres, where there are many
zones for non-motor traffic.
What is necessary for a larger share of cycling in city traffic is to develop
new attitudes and remove psychological barriers. In the era of constant economic
growth and a social welfare model, people are more and more attached
to comfort, which is manifested in the fact that they tend to go shopping by car
to avoid carrying bags where bicycle basket would do. We are more and more
vulnerable to bad weather, although with suitable clothes and well-equipped bicycle
we will get less wet cycling than when walking with an umbrella. However,
our biggest problem is simply our laziness and being used to sedentary
lifestyle. Overcoming these barriers is a greater challenge than implementation
of difficult technological innovations. This situation can be changed through
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