Abstract

This thesis from the School of Architecture, Royal Institute of Technology (Department of Town Planning), is divided into three major parts. The first part deals with the past and present conditions for urban and suburban cycling in Sweden. Specific aspects of this general subject are penetrated to a greater extent.

The second part is basically a sketch for an improved "Cycle Planning and Facility Design Manual". Laid out in the form of an inventory of common design faults, it focuses on ten problem areas from a cyclistąs point of view, presenting explanatory comments and suggestions for more appropriate standard solutions.

Whereas the first two parts are essentially based on "armchair research", the last part documents actual field work! It records a detailed examination of five discrete radial cycle routes from the centre of Stockholm to the northern outskirts of the Greater Stockholm area. The total distance reviewed and analysed -- in terms of the problems outlined in chapter 2.3 -- is approximately 100 km.


A SUB-CHAPTER LEVEL SUMMARY OF SUBJECT CONTENTS:

(Chapter 1.1) Introduction.

(Chapter 1.2) The historical background of urban cycling; the rise and relative fall of utility cycling (cycling as a means of transport) in Stockholm, and the politics of ditto; the origins and development of urban planning theories and traffic planning dogmas relevant to cycling.

(Chapter 1.3) The "car culture" and the ideological basis of traditional planning; personal mobility and the limits of transport mode choice; technical potential of cycling as a more wide-spread transport mode; evaluation of natural and structural factors that possibly affect the volume of popular bicycle transport; health benefits and accident data pertainig to cycling; official transport policies in view of the ecological consequences of the present transport system; the role of cycling in a civilised urban environment; traditions and progressive transport policies of some "cycle-friendly" cities abroad; "So why donąt we all cycle then, eh?" -- A modest theory concerning the decisive significance of a limited number of facility design factors which tend to act as critical deterrents to cycling, thereby ultimately prohibiting a lasting increase in the use of bicycles for everyday transport.

(Chapter 1.4) Towards a sustainable transport policy -- the need for a profound change in priorities; suggestions for plausible strategies to increase the use of the bicycle as a regular means of transport; conclusions -- general design criteria for a proposed new category of optimised "high-priority cycle routes" to facilitate radial commuting in large urban areas.

(Chapter 1.5) Other data pertaining to the cycling traffic environment (accident risk types; definitions of key words).

(Chapter 2.1) An introduction to the professional cycle transport plannerąs required tool-box and specialised field of knowledge.

(Chapter 2.2) Some useful check-lists for the ideal treatment of cycle traffic projects and road schemes.

(Chapter 2.3) "The Catalogue of Horrors"-- A critical review of typical design faults and technical mistakes in the design and implementation of road facilities; a semi-systematic listing of flagrant problem areas, some (or most) of which can be assumed to be especially intimidating and/or dangerous to the unexperienced cyclist.

(Chapters 3.1 to 3.5) Description of five existent commuting cycle routes (or is it cycling commuter routes?), chosen as examples of the level of analysis essential for a thorough understanding of the specific and occasionally unique demands of any particular intersection, stretch, or route. [The aim being to record a complete list of measures necessary to make these routes true "express-ways" for safe and relatively fast cycle commuting (of the type proposed in chapter 1.4)].

Besides specific criticism of constructional details, etc, special emphasis is made throughout on the desirability of establishing routes on the available infrastructure, i.e. enhancing cycling conditions on the regular road network, rather than constructing designated, segregated facilities of limited practical use. [Generally, cyclists using bike paths are required to stop or yield att all cross streets, while cyclists riding in the street will usually be given priority over cross traffic. Furthermore, stopped motor vehicles will often block adjacent bike paths at intersections].