Appraisals of urban mobility schemes are crucial to assess the expected benefits of particular schemes, determine their suitability to meet policy objectives and to prioritise them.
Cycling as a mode of transport can be seen as a driver of jobs and economic activity just as much as cars and public transport vehicles. The European Cyclists' Federation has produced a report which examines the contribution that cycling makes to economic and job growth across the EU, ranging from bicycle manufacture and repair, to cycle tourism, to the economic impact of public bike-sharing schemes.
Increasing the numbers of people who choose to cycle rather than drive is a well-established method to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. The European Cyclists' Federation has produced a report which examines the evolution of air pollution concentrations in five European cities (Antwerp, London, Nantes, Seville and Thessaloniki), concluding that cycling is an effective tool to reduce urban air pollution when combined with other sustainable mobility measures.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) invites delegates to participate in a hearing to express views about the mid-term review of the European Commission's 2011 White Paper on Transport.
The EESC is interested in knowing about:
In identifying measures to resolve mobility problems, local authorities often have to select from a number of different options. When making a decision about which measure is most suitable to pursue, economic feasibility and the extent of a measure's impact are crucial factors to consider.
The TIDE project has produced a document comparing the use of multi-criteria analysis compared to a conventional cost-benefit analysis when assessing measures. These are also illustrated with examples carried out in cities involved in the TIDE project.
The EVIDENCE Project is examining the quality of the evidence on the effects of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP) measures, to identify ‘what works’. SUMP measure appraisals (ex ante) can demonstrate very favourable ratios of benefits to costs when subject to the analysis techniques applied to major transport infrastructure schemes.
The Winter Cycling Congress 2015 Leeuwarden is about uniting communities of all climates, sizes and levels of bicycle development who share the ambition to make two-wheeled travel normal, even when the snow flies.
Using the perspective of all different types of professionals – from engineers to planners to bloggers to public health officials and more – the conference will show that winter cycling is more than a sustainable solution for transporting people, it is also a way to develop a culture and built environment supporting the health, wealth and happiness of many people.
Imagine the city ... feel it ... breathe it ... explore it ... live the city ... love the city. Beloved Ljubljana.
The EVIDENCE project (www.evidence-project.eu) have a team of international specialists who are able to respond to technical questions about appraisal, cost-benefit analysis and evaluation. Please get in touch if you have any questions or wish to contribute to the debate?
The Health Economic Assessment Tool, or HEAT, can be used when planning new infrastructure for cyclists or pedestrians, and provides valuable information for related economic and health impact assessments.
The tool can also help make the case for more investment in cycling and walking facilities by estimating the benefits of achieving national targets or illustrating potential consequences of declines in current levels of cycling or walking. HEAT can also assess a city’s current situation or past investment related to cycling and walking.
The Eurocities organization awarded the City of Ljubljana at the annual conference, Eurocities 2013 Ghent for the project “Providing Safety and Equal Opportunities in Traffic for Children & People with Disabilities” in the “Smart Living” category.
The award represents the acknowledgement of our endeavours to improve the quality of life of our citizens, namely the most vulnerable groups, and gives an additional spur for the future.
