Blok’s Post

METRICS Mobilidade, with a team with over 30 years’ experience in urban mobility studies and cycling infrastructure design, has joined our #CycleRAP family as our first licensed supplier in Latin America, analysing the safety of cycle path redesigns for the Lagoa da Pampulha in #Brazil. Metrics Mobilidade’s collaboration with the CycleRAP team began with the pressing need for an evidence-based methodology to validate safety enhancements in the redesign of 11.3km of cycling paths encircling Lagoa da Pampulha in Brazil. Situated in the heart of Belo Horizonte, Lagoa da Pampulha holds historical significance as a leisure destination. The region is renowned for the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it boasts one of the highest concentrations of cyclists in the entire municipality. The CycleRAP methodology was utilized to quantify the safety benefit of the path redesign, with particular reference to 27 locations, identified by the project team as critical risk points. The collaborative efforts between Metrics and the City Council are in direct response to the alarming number of cyclist crashes in the city. On average, 556 cyclists are hospitalized every year due to road crashes. The safety benefit of the new design was calculated by comparing the CycleRAP assessment results of the baseline (the current condition of the infrastructure) with the redesigned infrastructure in the project stage. Across the 27 assessed locations, the project successfully eliminated all extreme and high-risk sections, resulting in all sections being classified as medium or low risk in the redesigned scenario. Assessing designs is just one of the myriad potential applications of CycleRAP. “This project exemplifies how CycleRAP can empower cities and consultancy companies to instill greater confidence in the projects they undertake. Furthermore, it serves as an invaluable tool for cities to effectively communicate with citizens, providing the evidence-based rationale behind their initiatives,” remarked Shanna Lucchesi, CycleRAP project coordinator for iRAP. https://lnkd.in/geAjCQWP

I suspect many people think mountain biking in a high-risk sport not suitable to people of modest ability. That's not the case. There are plenty of trails, you can happily pedal with very little ability. What's even better, many of these trails are well signed, so a wise person can start with the easy ones. The lovely signage scheme that is used for skiing and sometimes mountain biking also works well for communities looking to invest in active transport infrastructure. Different types of projects are easy, moderate, difficult and extreme. For agencies with low active transport use, start with the easy projects. These projects don't require you to take a massive leap of faith, because they have minimal negative impacts and significant positive ones, at a small scale. They can also help you to build and maintain a foundation to take on more ambitious projects. This is the first time I've attempted to document this type of thinking but it's informed by experience on a range of these projects from easy to extreme! I'm interested to hear if there are other projects out there people would consider easy, moderate, difficult, extreme? https://lnkd.in/gm5jWeX9

Applications are now open for the 2024–25 round of cycling and walking local government grants. Through the Cycle Network Local Government Grants program, the Queensland Government provides 50/50 matched funding to local governments to undertake planning, design and construction of high-quality bike riding infrastructure on the principal cycle network. Through the Walking Local Government Grants program, the Queensland Government provides 50/50 matched funding to local governments to develop walking network plans and priority works programs with a focus around primary destinations such as public transport, schools, and town centres. Walking network plans identify how everyday destinations can be better connected by comfortable, direct, safe and accessible routes, and are accompanied by priority works programs to help turn the plans into reality. Applications close on 15 December 2023, with approved projects to commence from July 2024. Further information: For more information about the Cycle Network Local Government Grants program, visit https://lnkd.in/drx_fhd4. For more information about the Walking Local Government Grants program, visit https://lnkd.in/d9X9biv7.

MUST READ for all cycling industry... The economic and environmental benefits of cycling are tremendous. This IMBA approved report by PECPA is a well written synopsis of "build it and they will come". Conservation efforts are needed to keep natural heritage features diverse and secure. Economic upticks in areas that have seen hard times is a massive bonus. Caveat: There is still some BIG CORP money behind a couple of the mountain biking towns out there that create more economic hardship and environmental problems with their main business. No amount of revitalizing a small town will fix what they've already destroyed. https://lnkd.in/eAejs2aU

Interesting article highlighting the economic potential of mountain biking! 🌄🚵♂️ Explore how strategic planning and policy updates can drive growth and sustainability in outdoor recreation. #mountainbiking

Cyclists! What's in your region's plans for you? Where I live, Manawatū, there is some money for cycling. But much of it is devoted to expensive projects (like $37 million for a 200 metre clip-on for recreational riders) that will not achieve the council's goals of transport choice, safety, mode shift, and emissions reduction. In this piece for Cycling Action Network I dig into this a bit more. Many regions have consultations closing soon. https://lnkd.in/gbtWC8n8 

Join Cycle September today - it is a fun, free, and friendly biking challenge. You can ride anywhere, anytime in September to participate. Eighteen members of Braintree District Council have already signed up. Employees can join our Braintree District Council league and there is a leader board to help with motivation thanks to some healthy competition. Or if you work elsewhere, why not set up your own company league? Louise Flavell, Economic Development Officer, said: “I live too far away to commute by bike but really enjoy cycling at weekends. It is great to feel you are getting some exercise but the end goal is always a pub meal, which I feel I can then justify a pudding. When I cycle it gives me a great sense of freedom and it is a great activity that we can all do as a family. I also get to see parts of the countryside that I wouldn’t usually – you see so much more on a bike!” Joby Humm, Leisure and Contracts Manager, said: “I cycle to work on the days where I can, as it’s only a short commute, I find I can get to work quicker by bike than in the car. We have some great facilities at the Council such as secure bike storage, showers and drying areas for clothes if it rains , which makes it that much easier to choose to cycle in to work.” More here: https://lnkd.in/eMVbTap #CycleSeptember #cycleschemes #activetravel #cycling #cyclinglife #cyclingcommunity #safergreenerhealthier

Recently, our CEO Alton Twine was presenting at the 13th Queensland Transport and Infrastructure Conference - but he has also been reaching out to Queensland's local governments, to remind them of the importance of active transport planning. Key points that are going out to all local government authorities include: - 50% of all trips in QLD are 5km or less - Cycling is a low-cost form of transport - Communities benefit from reduced congestion by encouraging more trips by bike - More trips by bike reduce fuel, parking and vehicle service costs - while benefitting health and reducing emissions - Providing active transport networks is comparatively cheap compared to most major transport projects More people on bikes more often - it makes Queensland more liveable.

LAUNCH🚀 - NEW BeTRITON Version Amphibious Camper Bike - TRAILER 🏞 After conducting initial tests and gathering feedback from renting out the full version of BeTriton 3.0 last summer, the team decided to focus on boating 🚤 – the most loved function - and offer a simplified, more practical trailer version of the same product. All three functions—boating, camping, and biking—remain intact, but this product doesn't include the integrated bike. Instead, a standard e-bike 🚲 is used to tow it overland. This version is ready for production and global delivery to end customers and rental/adventure companies. 🎥 VIDEO PRODUCTION by SIMPLYANNA Supported by EEA and Norway Grants, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), EIT Urban Mobility #productlaunch #sustainablemobility #futuremobility #designinnovation #amphibiouscamping