PEDAL POWER ALTERNATIVE TO TRAFFIC JAMS

A report is given on the Velo City '87 International Conference on bicycle planning. Held in Groningen, participants were able to see for themselves a successful scheme where 50% of trips to work and 67% of trips to school are by bicycle. The Delft project was also examined where 80% funding has been provided by the government to encourage cycling and reduce traffic levels. A dense network of routes is provided at the urban, district and neighbourhood level. The situation in Britain is examined and a much more cautious attitude by the Department of Transport to cycle planning is revealed. Good facilities are however revealed in some towns including Oxford and Newark. The relationship between cycling and pollution and congestion and connections with public transport were main themes of the conference. A bike and ride policy was strongly argued by the chairman of the Dutch cyclists union. (TRRL)