Urban Appropriate Bicycles

Utility style bicycles vs recreational style bikes in urban environments.

( in Amsterdam)

-Why urban-appropriate styles of bicycles and their associated technologies are a prerequisite to enabling the uptake of utility style cycling

by a broader demographic than that to which it is currently limited in New Zealand.

( Alan Preston, Christchurch N.Z. 11th of February 2009 )

Imagine how few people would feel inclined to driving cars in New Zealand if we were limited to driving formula 1 racing cars, go-carts, rally cars and stock cars.

-Maybe as few as currently ride bicycles here.. -with bicycles designed for recreational use being presented as virtually the only option for use on flat city roads

while would-be cyclists are deprived of the more appropriate 'alternatives' that have made cycling practical, comfortable, convenient and reliable for the vast masses of cyclists in the countries where cycling is prevalent.

There is a disappointingly restrictive lack of variety in the choice of appropriate cycling technologies being offered by all but a small handful of cycle retailers in New Zealand.

Consequently mountain bikes prevail in our cities which are for the most part dead flat.

Carrying capacity

Imagine not being able to carry anything with you in your car

-like mountain bikes and road racers which are rarely set up to carry anything.

Having your bicycle fitted with baskets and other carrying devices will enable you to use it for things you now use your car for.

You can even get a trailer for your bike.

- the utility style bicycles which are the choice of the vast majority of cyclists in Europe and Japan are frequently fitted with baskets and other carrying devices

( to carry kids, tools, shopping etc)

Check out this little video on shopping by bicycle from Assen in the Netherlands.

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Seeing and being seen.

Imagine having to attach battery powered lights to your car whenever you wanted to drive at night, -and then having the batteries run out out in the middle of your journey !

The bikes currently being sold in New Zealand are not fitted with internal hub dynamos to power bright halogen or LED lights and cyclists here have to endure battery powered lights which are often designed more to be seen than to actually see with.

Having permanently fixed internal hub-dynamo-powered halogen or LED lights with a capacitor to keep them going at intersections helps to make cycling much more convenient ( no worries about forgetting or fitting lights) , reliable ( no flat batteries) practicable (see in the dark) , and safe ( be seen ) .

Internal hub-dynamo technologies have been perfected over the years to provide reliable, silent battery-free electricity without causing drag and they are a key feature in making cycling at night much more convenient , reliable , safe and practicable.

Internal hub gearing systems

Internal 3,4,7 or 8 speed gearing systems manufactured by companies such as Sturmey-Archer and Shimano are the prevalent choice of cyclists in Europe and Japan as opposed to the dérailleur systems which are the only choice being offered by 99.9% of cycle retailers in New Zealand.

Low maintenance Internal hub gearing systems are more appropriate for riding in urban environments especially because gears can be changed very quickly to respond to the stop/go situations that cyclists often find themselves in on city streets.

Gears can also be changed while stationary whereas the dérailleur system used on mountain bikes necessitates that riders change gear while moving before entering a situation,-which can be a bit tricky when riding in the midst of motor vehicles.

Losing your chain when trying to get out of the way of a car could be fatal.

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Staying clean and dry.

Imagine being sprayed with water and mud because your car didn't have mudguards ..

-well , mountain bikes or road racers don't come fitted with mudguards either.

Having mudguards, chain-guards and skirt-guards make cycling much more practicable as you won't have to worry about getting wet,

dirty or having the leg of your trousers or your frock caught up and ripped by the chain or the back wheel.

The bikes used by the vast majority of cyclists wherever cycling is prevalent are fitted with

mudguards, chain-guards and in many places with skirt-guards for ladies.

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Warning devices.

Imagine not having a horn in your car !

But we hardly ever see bicycle bells on bicycles in New Zealand

-And it seems that pedestrians are so unfamiliar with the sound of a bicycle bell that they don't know how they should react when they hear one.

-I've even heard that bicycle importers remove the bells from bicycles when they arrive in New Zealand.....-go figure !

Having a bell ( or other warning device) fitted to your bicycle is an absolute essential for sharing space with pedestrians .

Bicycles in countries where cycling are prevalent are usually fitted with at least a bell , - and they are used frequently.

Bring back the bicycle bell!

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Locking

Imagine having to get a chain out to lock your car up every time you got out of it.

Cyclists in New Zealand have to endure many inconveniences with relation to securing their bikes,-even when stopping for a short time to pop into a shop etc...

If you'd prefer to be using any of these , be sure to let your local cycle retailer know.

For a list of suppliers of European style urban appropriate bicycles in New Zealand,

click here.

Other obstacles impeding the uptake of cycling in New Zealand......

Helmets:

Imagine having to wear a helmet whenever you get into a car......

(Actually there are studies which show that there is more of a case for the compulsory wearing of helmets for occupants of cars than there is for cyclists)

Cyclists in New Zealand are forced to wear a helmet at all times......

-while 100 million cyclists in the Europe Union, 86 million Japan and all other countries in the world where cycling is prevalent are not subject to laws forcing them to wear helmets because their governments know that the imposition of such laws results in fewer people cycling.

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Segregated Facilities

Imagine being compelled by the law to drive your car on a truck racing circuit while being prohibited from driving in the quiet back streets.

A terrifying prospect perhaps, - but on a different scale, this is the kind of environment that the law compels cyclists to ride in on many of New Zealands busy urban roads,- while denying us the choice of using the existing network of segregated facilities ( i.e. those currently designated as 'footpaths').

Having access to segregated cycling facilities is a prerequisite to many people getting on their bikes.

In Europe it is understood that segregated cycle lanes are a prerequisite for getting the general population cycling.

(see Making Cycling Irresistable )

In Japan cyclists are free to share footpaths with pedestrians,-even in areas of high density pedestrian traffic.

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If you can see the sense in getting segregated cycling facilities installed in your area, be sure to make a submission to your Local, Territorial and Regional Council's Annual, LTCCP and Sustainable Transport Plans.

It will never happen if you don't.

Alan Preston in Christchurch , New Zealand.

February 2009

Home See also: How the law is inhibiting the uptake of urban utility cycling in New Zealand