Workshop on cycling in Brno

CIVITAS Initiative

In June 2010 a seminar concerning solutions for cycling in CIVITAS ELAN cities took place in Brno. The workshop was a part of the CIVITAS ELAN project meeting which took place in Brno from 15 to 17 June 2010.

During the seminar issues related to cycling transportation in the respective project cities (apart from Brno it was Gent in Belgium, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Porto in Portugal and Zagreb in Croatia). The PRESTO Project and its results in Zagreb were also presented. Mr. A. Jebavý presented the general cycling plan of the City of Brno, which is currently being prepared, as well as a proposal for a further development of cycling in the city. Mrs. Radomíra Plíšková, representative of the ministry of transport of the Czech Republic, attended the seminar as well. In her presentation she introduced the project “Česko jede” (“Czech goes”). It is a complex project focusing on presentation and support of the cycling in the Czech Republic. Within this project cycling routes of the Czech Republic will be coordinated and, among other things, a web portal focusing on cycling will be started. Mrs. Plíšková also reviewed the prepared legislative changes, which will support cycling in the cities (e.g. enabling cyclists to use one-way roads in both directions).Within the framework of CIVITAS ELAN Gent (Belgium) is not only one of the cities with the most advanced cycling transportation but also has the necessary accompanying infrastructure. Gent has more than 230,000 inhabitants and there are 110,000 bicycle trips made daily! The profound change occurred in the city at the beginning of the nineties when there were several pedestrian zones created in the city centre and entrance of cars was either forbidden or restricted. Parking lots were moved underground and to parking houses and freed up space was used to support cycling. Currently Gent strives to solve its bicycle parking issues (e.g. in the newly reconstructed railway station there will be 10,000 guarded bicycle parking places). Bicycle sheds, which enable to park bicycles in special guarded lockers are being built within the framework of the CIVITAS ELAN project. A special system to protect bicycles from theft which is based on the unique codes carved in to the frame of the bikes has also been developed. This code means each bike can be identified.In Porto (Portugal) new cycling routes are being constructed at the moment. Newly built cycling routes are designed mainly as recreational facilities. Especially important is the Atlantic Cycling Route along the Douro River and the Atlantic Ocean. Cycling routes are built near public transport base lines to facilitate intermodal changes. The presentation of the Ljubljana (Slovenia) representatives was focused on the measure, which will allow Ljubljana to become a bicycle-friendly city. Among them are e.g. car rental system, streets with clearly designated bicycle lanes, cycling routes and other useful facilities like bicycle stands and parking places. In Ljubljana they want to support cycling culture as well. Ljubljana has almost 270,000 inhabitants of which 8-10 % use the bicycle for their trips. The City of Ljubljana is trying to increase this number even further with promotional activities. The City of Zagreb (Croatia) presented its results in the PRESTO project, which is focused on cycling as well. As Zagreb does not have an integrated plan of the cycling transport development, its measures are oriented mainly towards cycling infrastructure planning and the support of cycling. In the area of promotion it cooperates with the CIVITAS ELAN project as well.One of the parts of the cycling workshop was a test ride on electric bikes (e-bikes and pedelecs). It took place on the courtyard of the new town hall and was attended by Mr. Ladislav Macek, deputy mayor of the City of Brno, who is also the political guarantor of the CIVITAS ELAN project. Electric bikes were provided by Igielektrokola company.

Author: Lucie Humplikova

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