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With the latent risk of becoming infected with the new coronavirus, social distancing, health security and health protection have become the new commandments of urban mobility, and, next to it, individual transport is positioned as a form of prevention.
Although there is already talk of a rebound in the use of private cars and motorcycles as “safe options”, the consequences of a massive use of these means are not favorable.
(You may be interested in: Brazil exceeds 10,000 deaths from coronavirus)
For this reason, in several cities around the world, the bicycle is emerging as an attractive, viable, low-cost and accessible option for all sectors. EL TIEMPO, with the support of experts, selected examples of cities that pedal against the virus, with projects that support the bicycle as a safe means of transport and as a sustainable alternative and in tune with the new urban agenda.
Bogota
The Colombian capital has enabled temporary bike lanes in the corridors most used for work trips. This, in addition to its 550 kilometers of bicycle routes. In the first quarantine stage, 35 kilometers of bicycle lanes were consolidated on the road, protected by the Ministry of Security and Police and guided by IDRD and Ministry of Mobility personnel. The project now has 80 kilometers throughout the city, and some will be converted to permanent lanes.
There was also private support. In an alliance with Muvo, Numo and Despacio, 400 bicycles were loaned to health personnel.
(Also read: Colombia reaches 10,495 cases of contagion by coronavirus)
Mayor Claudia López has warned that the bicycle must become a permanent option. “Returning to normal does not mean returning to burning diesel and gasoline,” he warned.
Further… Cundinamarca, in alliance with BiciCar, will lend cycles to employees of companies in municipalities near the capital. And in Pasto, Nariño, the authorities cleared the main road, which runs through the entire city, from cars to hand it over to the cyclists.
Paris
Tomorrow the progressive lifting of mandatory confinement in the French city will begin. For this reason, Mayor Anne Hidalgo authorized the opening of 650 kilometers of bicycle lanes to avoid crowds in the subway and bus system.
Such was the impact of the measure that this week the newspaper Le Monde reported a rise in bicycle sales. On the other hand, the Mayor’s Vélo Plan, which seeks to replace spaces for cars to give them to bicycles and pedestrians, it is designed to accelerate. Curiously, this plan has been controversial in recent years and, due to the resistance it generated in some sectors, it had to slow down its implementation.
(Also read: 678 health workers in Colombia infected with coronavirus)
Further… The French Government announced a strategy of 20 million euros to promote the bicycle and prevent citizens from increasing the use of private cars. The initiative includes direct financial support for the repair of bicycles so that they can be reused (50 euros per person to invest in brakes, chain changes, etc.) and the creation of temporary bike parks.
Berlin
Germany will accelerate the end of the quarantine and is considering authorizing the reopening of commerce and schools this month, AFP confirmed in recent days.
To do this, it activated a mobility plan that, like other European countries, includes temporary bicycle lanes wide enough so that there is a prudent distance between all cyclists. The emphasis will be in Berlin.
It is striking that German digital media, When announcing the measure, they have mentioned the case of Bogotá and its temporary bike lanes as a reference.
Additionally, some companies are known to make free bicycle loans for the first 30 minutes of travel and several times in the same day.
And, on the other hand, the situation was exploited by groups of cyclists to draw attention to extending these sustainable mobility solutions beyond quarantine.
Further… Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn declared the bicycle as the safest means of mobility in quarantine.
In several cities around the world, the bicycle is emerging as an attractive, viable, low-cost and accessible option for all sectors.
London
London streets will change to prioritize pedestrians and bicycles with the temporary dedicated lane system. To achieve the adjustments on the road, parking lots and lanes for cars and other motor vehicles will be relocated.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said he hopes to multiply by ten the number of kilometers traveled by bicycle and by five the walks once the quarantine is lifted.
“The capacity of our public transport will be significantly reduced after the coronavirus due to the enormous challenges that we face in terms of social distancing, ”said Khan.
On the other hand, health workers received, on loan for three months, electric bicycles to go to their workplaces. Although the initiative was supported in principle by Gocycle GS, there are already other brands interested in supporting the initiative and expanding the network.
Further… In the UK, bike shops and stores were rated ‘essential’ and may remain open.
NY
Although New York was already well known in the world for its commitment to cycling, it has had to go ‘the extra mile’ in the midst of the pandemic. There, bike companies have expanded their service to reach major hospitals, offering free trips to all health workers, and have even opened new loan stations.
And the bike-sharing company CitiBike has noticed that people prefer the bike. In the first week of March, it registered 500,000 users of its bikes, compared to 300,000 on the same dates last year.
Likewise, the companies have also intensified their cleaning and disinfection procedures for all vehicles and helmets.
Further… In Seattle, bike sharing companies are the primary transportation option and have intensified their disinfection practices.
The apps offer free 30-minute bicycle trips to essential city workers, such as health personnel and food store workers.
Lime
The challenge of implementing the bicycle as a means of transport is not an easy matter, but it is necessary. According to Lima Como Vamos, 75% of the capitals use public transport and 9% use private cars. The result is monumental road congestion, overloads at combis, and increased air pollution – the perfect cocktail to increase the risk of coronavirus infection.
So, the authorities had to activate strategies at all levels. For example, in the next three months bike lanes will be made that they planned to build in the next five years in the capital of Peru.
And, on the other hand, the Peruvian Government plans to install a network of 301 kilometers of temporary bicycle lanes, which will later be replaced by fixed structures.
Further… The aim is to develop a low-cost Peruvian prototype of a bicycle that has the minimum safety conditions for driving around the city. The idea is that it does not exceed 350 soles ($ 401,000 Colombians), an investment that could be recovered in two months without using public transport.
Bogotá’s temporary bike lanes work
on the roads with the highest demand. The adjustments have been made according to the behavior of the users.
Courtesy of the Mobility Secretariat.
Milan
Milan has been one of the Italian cities that has most celebrated the announcement of a retroactive bonus of up to 500 euros for the purchase of bicycles and electric scooters. The “alternative mobility voucher” announced by the Minister of Transportation, Paola de Micheli, will be enabled in cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, as an incentive for people to choose the bike as their means of transportation and to lighten the demand for transportation public.
Further… Experts have described this as the “now or never” moment in Italy, a country where 60% of people use private cars.
There are those who hope that the new bond will join previous initiatives of small cities such as Bari (Apulia), where the mayor created a ‘biciplan’ which included more than 100 kilometers of bicycle lanes throughout the metropolitan area and an incentive of 25 cents workers for every kilometer traveled on the way from their homes to their workplace.
Another good example is Pesaro (Marks) with its Bicipolitana, a network of lanes that imitate a metro network, differentiated with numbers and colors.
ANA M. PUENTES
Bogota Newsroom@soypuentes
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