In European countries, the use of bikes is as normal as breathing, as Ultrecht or Copenhague city demonstrate that almost 50% of citizens transport by bike. And isn’t odd to think in a near future, bike friendly infrastructure will have greater presence in the most developed (or developing) places in cyclist matters.
The already mentioned may seem as a utopia, above all, if we consider the countries where 1% of population has access to bike ways. However, exists other countries as Mexico or Bogota that give a greater priority to bike and cyclist infrastructure.
It is valid the believe that the construction of friendly environments with cycling can be in any place. For that, we will talk about the measures that might adopt to achieve a better bike-friendly architecture
What’s bike-friendly architecture?
In short, bike friendly architecture is the construction thought to ease cyclist mobility, involving the construction of bikeways or special lanes to transport within this, places specially designed to park and protect bikes. All in one place.
Of course, the bike friendly term has expanded to commercial matters. That is, for example, with restaurants and coffee shops that allow customers to enter with their bikes.
In other cases, exists sites for cyclists exclusively, however, in this text we will find about everything, but mostly about constructions.
Options for bike-friendly architecture
Integral buildings and bikes
Nowadays, there are housing and laboral complexes which environments ease the circulation of wheelchairs or strollers.
We are not talking about cycling inside a building, but would be an option to construct special places to leave and enter with folding bicycles.
In fact, these folding bikes occupy less space, adapting and functioning as chairs, part of a desk, and others.
Pedaling from the door to the street
In housing complexes with many floors, exists the possibility of create small bikeways that start from corridors and get to entrances or exits of these. Of course, created with ramps to omit stairs. In this way, people can pedal from their house to street.
Life-saving ascents
If streets have speed bumps that help to control speed of vehicles and avoid accidents as shocks or collisions, the same might be done with cyclists.
Well, is true that respect speed limits, depends of yourself; however, at dangerous intersections or busy avenues, ground could be elevated 3 or 6 feet before reaching them. In this way, even though cyclist rides at speed excess, will brake when ascending, and when accelerating, won’t be so fast.
Mimic cycling with commerce
Previously we have commented that in streets with bikeways, existent commerce of the same routes increases instead of decrease.
Considering that aspect, once city develops or is completely developed in cycling matters, the next step is looking cyclist infrastructure work as a way of commerce.
From specialized and varied businesses in surroundings of any bike-friendly architecture, to use the same bikeways as messaging route, for example. All this, of course, without hinder the circulation of cyclists and pedestrians.
Greater distance, less time
Thinking in a totally cyclist environment or city, would be better to increase the distances and reduce the travel time. What are we talking about?
We refer exclusively to the commerce, by placing and separating them, obtaining many benefits
First of them is arrive faster by bike than walking. When someone walks, move from 1 to 3 mph. On the other hand, when pedaling can transport from 9 to 15 mph. In this way, the distance is greater to get from point A to B, actually is faster when using bike.
The second benefit is more transited and safe streets by dispersing businesses along a block, instead focusing all the business in one avenue. Paying attention to the main avenue and also all the surrounding streets and neighborhoods.
All the above are proposals for the future, for a bike-friendly architecture in harmony with the pedestrian. Original article written by Steven Fleming for ArchDaily where propose more and new proposals to create cities with a better cyclist design.
