Considerations on sustainable mobility: The contribution of cycling to the shift of transportation behaviour

Abstract

Nowadays, mid-sized cities can achieve descent level of sustainable mobility through a balanced scheme where technological measures and revised transporting behaviour coexist harmonically. The key challenge for sustainable mobility is the modal shift to walking and cycling on a city level, leaving behind car use. Bicycle is a very flexible mean of transport which can roll on roads, sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, parks and squares. In case of tangible obstacles, like external stairs, the cyclist becomes pedestrian and carries his bike. Xanthi is a mid-sized city in Northern Greece. The traffic could be relieved from cars if a network of bicycle-paths is constructed using a ring-like scheme. More initiatives towards locomotions with bicycle must be planned by local authorities, including the sharing of public owned bicycles. In the city, the transportation infrastructure quality and moving-associated attitudes are strongly related. Neighbourhoods with no public transportation, walkways or cycling paths force households towards car use. Consequently, there is a need for coordinated decision making towards a “new thinking” based on concepts of environment protection along with the people’s well-being. Planners, engineers and economists need to work in partnership with business associations to measure and monitor amendments, in an objective manner, with appropriate scale analysis. Bicycle sharing system is proposed to be implemented by the Municipality of Xanthi. The idea is based on the high numbers of university students and training young athletes needing to move during various times in the day on relatively short courses.