cycle paths

$507 million pushbike bonanza for Sydney

SYDNEY'S cycleways will save the city millions of dollars in travel time, pollution and fatalities over the next 30 years, a new report suggests.

Economists put a dollar value on factors surrounding the cycleways: Human life ($165,659 per year), health ($487 per year), and sitting in gridlock ($12.20 per hour). By crunching the numbers, top global economists AECOM found that over 30 years the paths would save Sydney $507 million - or 84c per kilometre.

Each extra bike means one less car on the city's roads (Sydney)

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore

ON Sydney's annual Ride To Work Day next month, city workers will take to the cycleways and ride into the CBD dressed in their suits.

An increasing number of CEOs and their staff have taken up cycling since last year. One reason is the cycle network and the safety it provides.

They Make No Small Plans In Jönköping, Sweden: A City Designed For Bikes

A lot of Torontonians are wondering where they will move after the election in October, as the candidates race to the bottom to outdo each other in slashing services, getting rid of bike lanes, building underground highways that make Boston's Big Dig look small and cheap, and where the formerly leading candidate lost my vote with his rallying cry "Scarborough, not Copenhagen"! (Scarborough is a troubled, car-dominated suburb)

Transport Agency fund accelerates Hastings cycleway plan

More than $5 million is to be spent on four paths linking Hastings, Flaxmere, Havelock North and Clive.

Hastings is to receive funding under the New Zealand Transport Agency's walking and cycling model communities plan, which aims to encourage councils to integrate walking and cycling in transport planning.

From 22 council expressions of interest, Hastings and New Plymouth have received nearly $4 million each to complete their winning plans.

NZTA central regional director Jenny Chetwynd said urban centres across New Zealand would be encouraged to follow suit.

San Jose Hosts Inaugural “ViaVelo” Event Celebrating Cycling

San Jose, California, recently joined cities around the world in promoting car-free streets by hosting its first ciclovía, the Mattson Technology ViaVelo, which opened a portion of San Fernando Street in downtown to pedestrians, bicycle riders, and skaters. San Jose's first foray into ciclovía events was a hit with sponsors, elected officials and the throngs of people who showed up to enjoy the day.

Reclaim the Streets, Put the Brakes on Car Traffic

Cars promise mobility, and in a largely rural setting they provide it. But in an urbanizing world, where more than half of us live in cities, there is an inherent conflict between the automobile and the city. After a point, as their numbers multiply, automobiles provide not mobility but immobility, as well as increased air pollution and the health problems that come with it.

Cycling equals big financial benefits plus fewer cars, says new study

An inner city regional bicycle network would deliver at least $506 million - or $3.88 for every dollar spent - in net economic benefits over 30 years, according to a major new study.

The City of Sydney commissioned study by AECOM* found the network would reduce Sydney's traffic congestion by 4.3 million car trips a year.