Miami - The Netherlands Embassy and Consulates, United States

ThinkBike Workshops
A Dutch boost to Miami’s bike-ability
May 2-3, 2011
Sponsored by:
Consulate General of the Netherlands, Miami
Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington
In co-operation with:
Fietsberaad Internationaal
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Content
page
1.
Introduction
1.1 General information
1.2 Outline and description of the workshops
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3
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2.
Cycling in the Netherlands
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3.
Cycling in Miami
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4.
Results and observations
4.1. Outline and description of the workshop
4.2. Orange team
4.3. Blue team
4.4. Green team (communications and marketing of cycling)
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5.
Resources
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6.
Overview of media coverage
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7.
Personal notes of the Dutch experts
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1. Introduction
1.1
General information
Through a multi-city initiative called “ThinkBike Workshops”, the Royal
Netherlands Embassy in Washington, DC has invited Dutch experts of
Fietsberaad International to set up work shops in several US cities to discuss
possibilities to increase the use of the bicycle.
These ThinkBike workshops bring together Dutch bike experts, local politicians,
planners, advocates, engineers and business people in each city to plan and
discuss how it can become more bike-friendly by applying aspects of the Dutch
approach. Teams consisting of Dutch experts and a mix of local experts convene
for two days during which they survey the cities by bike and discuss in workshop
format how streets, intersections and whole neighborhoods can be improved for
optimal bicycle use. Topics of discussion at the workshops also include bike
safety, bike commuting, biking to school, bike parking, bikes and public
transport, law enforcement, etc. The workshops consist of a kick-off session,
open to the general public, followed by the workshops behind closed doors and
conclude with a closing session, also open to the public, where the
recommendations are presented by the teams. Miami was the third US city to
host the bike workshops – they took place on May 2 and 3, 2011.
In close cooperation with the Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami, two
teams (orange and blue) were formed that together with the Dutch experts
addressed the following design assignments:
A long term strategy on promoting cycling as well as a better marketing and
communication strategy on cycling.
During the workshops an
Cycling in Miami-Dade
exchange of views took place on
Bicycle Facility Facts: bicycle policy applied in the
various practical situations in
• 12.74 miles of City bike lanes Miami with possible integration
• 13.3 miles County bike lanes of Dutch ideas and best
• 5.88 FDOT bike lanes practices in the Miami situation.
• Decobike Bikeshare, 1000 bicycles and 100 stations Furthermore the philosophy and
principles behind the Dutch
approach to promote cycling
and the possibilities to implement these elements in Miami were discussed. A
small group from both teams also looked into a long term strategy for Miami
incorporating Dutch methods of marketing and communication.
1.2
Outline and description of the workshop
This report presents the results of the two day ThinkBike workshop in Miami on
May 2-3 2011. Objectives of the workshop were:
a) An exchange of views on bicycle policy applied in a practical situation
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(corridor or area) in Miami and possible integration of Dutch ideas and
best practices in the Miami situation;
b) To disseminate the philosophy and principles behind the Dutch approach to
promote cycling and the possibilities to implement elements of the same in
Miami;
c) To discuss Dutch methods of marketing and communication and a long
term strategy as to bicycle promotion.
Two teams have been working on a design assignment (the teams had different
areas to work on). During the workshop an exchange of views took place on
bicycle policy applied in the various practical situations of Miami with possible
integration of Dutch ideas and best practices for the study areas.
A small group from members of both teams worked on the long term strategy on
promoting cycling and Dutch methods of marketing and communication to
increase cycling. The philosophy and principles of the Dutch approach to promote
cycling were presented and the possibilities to implement these methods in the
Miami cycling strategy were discussed. But it was not a “one way” discussion:
also the projects which already have been accomplished in Miami were
presented; these projects stimulated the interests of the Dutch experts.
The day before the actual start of the workshop, the Dutch team, together with
their Miamian hosts went on a bike tour along the study areas. Topics to be
raised at the workshop were discussed and visualized during that tour: bike
safety, bike commuting, cycling to school, bicycle parking the integration of
cycling and public transport, law enforcement.
The workshops started with a kick-off session, open to the general public, with a
presentation about “Cycling in the Netherlands”.
After that the participants split up into two groups: the Blue Team and the
Orange Team. Each team started with defining their respective study area and
the goals and the data needed. Next,the teams went on a cycle tour through the
study areas to collect all sorts of data.
On Tuesday the workshops ended with a closing session open to the general
public. At this session the recommendations of both teams were presented
together with strategies for communications and marketing.
There were also two guest speakers invited for the closing session.
Zach Vanderkooy of the BikesBelong Foundation gave an overview of the work of
his organization and what it had learned during the annual Netherlands Bicycle
Study Tours.
Kit Keller, executive director of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle
Professionals.(APBP) explained the work of her organization and how it could
help the Miami bicycle professionals with improving infrastructure for cyclists.
We want to thank the representatives from Miami Dade County and the city of
Miami and all people taking part in this workshop. We are also very thankful for
the way they organized in close co-operation with the Dutch Consulate in Miami.
Special thanks to David Henderson (Miami Dade County), Colin Worth (City of
Miami) and Esther van Geloven and Julieta Reyes of the Netherlands Consulate
for the way they organized everything to perfection.
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2. Cycling in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with
more than 16 million inhabitants. The capital and the largest city is Amsterdam
with approx. 750,000 inhabitants.
The Netherlands is considered to be the world’s “number one” cycling country: in
modal share (27% of all trips are by bike), in quality and quantity of bicycle
infrastructure as well as the way bicycle policy is integrated in town and country
planning and transport policy. The “Design manual for bicycle traffic” (CROW,
June 2007) is the world’s leading manual for bicycle infrastructure. For a
comprehensive picture of all aspects of the Dutch approach, visit the website
www.fietsberaad.org where you can find the Design Manual as well as the
publication “Cycling in the Netherlands”.
Almost all Dutch cities have qualities that make bicycling – and its relevant
health, environmental and economic benefits – so prevalent.
Thirty-eight percent of commuter trips made by people living in Amsterdam are
made by bicycle. The number of bicycles in Amsterdam exceeds the number of
inhabitants.
As the Netherlands is by far the country with the highest bicycle use in Europe,
the bicycle percentage in the modal split in this country has been approx. 26%
over the last decades. If one looks at shorter distance trips (up to 7.5
kilometers/4.6 miles), around one third of all the trips in the Netherlands are
made by bicycle. The Dutch cities of Groningen and Zwolle have the highest
cycling rates with percentages around 50%, while cities with the lowest bicycle
use rank between 15% and 20%. Bicycling in the Netherlands is really a
mainstream activity. It is done by all genders (women cycle even more often
than men) and all ages. Girls between 12 and 16 years of age cycle on average 7
km (43 miles) per day. 60% of the people use their bike at least 3 times per
week, 80% at least once. It is done for all purposes (25% of the commuting
trips, around 70% of the trips to high school and about a third of the shopping
trips are done by bike). Cycling has a very good image in the Netherlands. The
use of the bike is so common in the Netherlands that nobody considers him- or
herself a cyclist.
The Dutch philosophy on cycling is based on three topics:
1. Cycling for enjoyment: It cannot be stressed enough that almost everybody
enjoys cycling: it is a fun thing to do; convenient; feeling the wind through your
hair; easy contact with others; no parking problems and so on
2. Five main requirements for a bicycle friendly infrastructure:
• Directness
• Attractiveness
• Cohesion
• Safety
• Comfort
3. A significant amount of cycling can only be achieved with a high quality of
infrastructure and integrated town and transport planning, political interest and
courage to achieve that cycling is an accepted means of transportation.
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Basic design principles
These are the basic design principles in the Netherlands:
• Road categorization (some roads are predominantly for (fast moving)
motorized traffic; others are specifically for bicycles or mixed traffic (with
traffic calming)
• Colored pavement on all the bike lanes (in the color red). Bike paths do
not need to be red;
• Continuation of the colored bike lanes on intersections in case the bike has
right-of-way;
• Choose for separate cycle facilities where possible;
• Create bike boxes on intersections with a combined lane for straight-going
and right-turning traffic in order to prevent cyclists being cut by rightturning cars;
• Create separate bike paths at the right side of parked cars in order to
prevent ‘dooring’ and to have cyclists protected by parked cars from
traffic;
• Allow contra-flow bike traffic in one-way-streets.
• Create bike boulevards or bike streets
• of transport
With al this in mind, designing bicycle infrastructure can be translated into the
following basic approach:
Road categorization
It is important to designate certain roads to car traffic and discourage bicycle use
on these roads (motorways, dual carriage ways, ring roads). These roads are not
allowed for cyclists because of the speed and high volume of motorized traffic.
Other roads can be more suitable for (separate) bicycle routes: main roads (50
miles/h. (80km/h), 30 miles/h. (50km/h)) and residential roads (40 miles/h.
(60km/h), 20 miles/h. (30 km/h))
Separate bicycle facilities are the best option
This can be achieved by a totally separated bicycle infrastructure, but it can also
be realized by a bicycle path separated from the car lane: for instance by a strip
of grass or concrete.
The problem with on-road bike lanes, especially the ones on the left side of
parked cars, is that they do not feel safe. There is no protection from the fastmoving car traffic and there is a great risk of being doored. A better option is to
have the bike facility on the right side of the parked cars, between the parking
space and the sidewalk, so that the cyclist is protected by the parked car.
Mixed traffic: take extra measures
Traffic calming is essential with mixed traffic (20 mph for cars), facilitated by
speed bumps, chicanes etc. In residential areas it is possible to divert through
traffic to the main roads, allowing only cars from residents and visitors in the
area (for instance by creating detours for cars and not for bikes, allowing bikes
to cross and cars not). When on an important bicycle link no separate bicycle
facility can be realized, and a low volume of cars needs to be allowed (e.g. giving
access to shops or houses) the solution could be to create a so-called Bicycle
Street (or Bike Boulevard): a road where cars have to give bikes right-of-way at
all times and are not allowed to pass the cyclist.
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Special provisions at intersections
Special provisions at intersections could consist of:
• tunnels and bridges under/over main highways to create conflict free
bicycle routes,
• mark the bicycle path at an intersection with (colored) elevated bicycle
lanes with extra warning signs,
• bicycle traffic control lights at all heavy used intersections
or at junctions to protect cyclists from cars (safety aspect),
• “bike boxes” (for bicycles to stop in front of the cars at traffic lights) which
give the cyclists a quick start to prevent accidents from cars making a
right turn. It is also a good measurement to protect cyclists from exhaust
fumes from cars.
Quality infrastructure
Provide colored pavement and use all kind of signs and infrastructural
measurements to make the bike infrastructure recognizable and of high quality.
In addition, parking facilities for bicycles should be of good quality and should
either be guarded or provide possibilities to secure bikes safely.
Protect cyclists by law enforcement
The legal system should protect the vulnerable road user. This means that car
drivers should take full responsibility and have full liability when driving a vehicle
that can cause danger and accidents. Car drivers should be aware that bicyclists
sometimes make strange movements especially when children are involved or
when the weather is bad (rainy, snow, windy). Furthermore, car drivers should
be educated in driving while sharing the road with bicyclists in order to avoid
accidents.
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3. Cycling in Miami
Miami-Dade County is typical of most large urban areas in the US in regards to
cycling. The transportation system is dominated by automobiles and people use
a bicycle more for social or recreational purposes than for practical trips. Bicycle
use is higher in neighborhoods that have a mix of residential and commercial
land uses and in areas with greater poverty.
Environment: The climate and topography of South Florida are suitable for
cycling throughout the year and many residents enjoy an active, outdoor
lifestyle. These factors suggest that the potential for cycling is much greater in
Miami-Dade County than the currently observed levels.
Infrastructure: There is a variety of bicycling infrastructure throughout MiamiDade County, including shared-use paths for bicyclists and pedestrians and bike
lanes on roads. The majority of bicycling, however, is done on public roads in
mixed traffic without special provisions for bicyclists.
Policy: Improving conditions for bicycling is supported by policies in the MiamiDade County Comprehensive Development Master Plan. Specifically, “the County
shall continue to promote and assist in the creation of a County wide system of
interconnected designated bicycle ways, and promote the implementation of the
Miami-Dade Bicycle Facilities Plan” (CDMP policy TE-2A). Miami-Dade County
and the City of Miami have developed bicycle facility plans to help guide
investment in new bicycling infrastructure.
Crashes: In 2009 there were 12 bicyclists killed and 452 bicyclists injured in
crashes with motorized vehicles in Miami-Dade County. The number injured in
collisions with other bicyclists or in solo falls is much higher.
Bike & ride: Miami-Dade Transit supports integration of mass transit and
bicycling through their “Bike & Ride” program. Bike racks are available at all
Metrorail stations and other transit hubs to make rail and bus service more
accessible to patrons that are beyond walking distance. Bicycles are allowed on
all Metrorail and Metromover cars, and all Metrobus vehicles have front racks
that carry two bicycles to increase the area of destinations served by Miami-Dade
Transit.
Bicycle usage: Less than 1% of all trips are made by bicycle (2009 National
Household Travel Survey, Miami-Ft Lauderdale CMSA) and less than 0.5% of
trips to work are made by bicycle (2009 American Community Survey, MiamiDade County).
Vision of the City of Miami/Miami Dade County
To foster the development of bicycle and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods and
commercial centers, enhancing the environment and improving public health and
quality of life, making Miami-Dade County an attractive, healthy and safe place
to live, work and play.
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Themes
A lot of themes on cycling were looked at during the workshops. It proved
important to look at the solutions from all different kinds of perspectives. Some
of them are listed below:
- Destinations and origins of bicycle trips
- Park and bike
- Cycling to school
- Bike parking
- Cycling improvement as part of neighborhood improvement
- Cycling improvement and improvement of the public realm
- Cycling and public transport
- Cycling for everyone
- Cycling and social safety
- Image of cycling
- Cycling and health
Study areas
Each team focussed on one area of the city. Each team took a bike tour to the
selected study area. Team members were more or less familiar with the situation
of the study area. Figure 1 (general) & figure 2 (more detail) show the area of
the City of Miami that the workshop focussed on.
Figure 1
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Figure 2
Practical bicycling opportunities in central Miami are limited because of the lack
of connectivity between neighborhoods (for example, South Beach, the Design
District, Overtown), community assets (including Bayfront Park, Museum Park,
Pace Park, Midtown, the Health District) and non-motorized transportation
facilities (such as the Venetian Causeway bike lanes, NW/NE 14th St bike lanes,
NE 2nd Ave bike lanes, and the Overtown Metrorail Station).
The map shows community assets and existing or funded non-motorized
facilities. The purple ovals are focus areas where critical gaps exist between
facilities or between facilities and destinations. The study team developed
recommendations for making these connections and other techniques (bike
parking, signage, promotion) to increase the use of bicycles in the area. By
leveraging the existing non-motorized transportation resources, the plan will
show how a small investment can yield significant returns in new bicycle trips
and improved safety.
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The study area has a very urban character with intense land use and
transportation characteristics. Two expressways, (I-95 and I-395) carry large
volumes of traffic overhead and create congestion near the interchanges at
Biscayne Blvd, NE 2nd Ave, NE 1st Ave and NW 14 St. Bicycle use is dispersed in
the area because of the variety of destinations, tight grid of streets and lack of
dedicated bike facilities. The study area includes residential, commercial, office
park and institutional uses and a variety of economic conditions. Current bicycle
use is more common among lower-income residents.
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4. Results and observations
The concept of the ThinkBike workshops has worked out very well. It has proved
that it is possible to apply the Dutch philosophy on bike promotion and present
the Dutch design principles into the Miami cycling strategy. It is difficult to
implement the design principles in concrete Miami-situations because the
situation is totally different as are the working processes. Therefore it is very
important to give customized advice which can be implemented on a local scale
and fits into the Miami bicycle reality.
As the Dutch examples are mostly "somewhat distant" for the US participants, it
made it almost impossible to translate the Dutch reference situation into the
Miami-situation. In fact it is not the content but the process that plays an
important role during the workshop.
The presence of the Dutch experts is important for the process: the Dutch
participation in the workshop works as a "catalyst" for the US team members; it
gave them the opportunity to devote two whole days solely to "biking", more or
less like a "pressure cooker": in a short, limited time producing optimum result.
On the other hand it was a safe environment to dream with fellow road designers
about road design without all the restrictions from the formal guidelines.
The composition of the teams and the mixed background was very successful
and the co-operation with the Dutch experts made the workshop a very
successful event. It gave all participants (both US and Dutch) a “boost of energy”
Also the size of the workshops (two teams of 12 persons) proved to be a good
formula.
The special group that focused on marketing and communications felt that these
issues should be dealt with within the work scope of the two teams, instead of in
a separate setting
The plenary presentation of the results of the two teams led to passionate
discussions and gave all participants the feeling that they had really achieved
something. The closing ceremony with two guest speakers was also a success.
4.1. Outline and description of the workshop
On Monday 2nd of May 2011 the workshops were kicked off by the Consul general
of the Netherlands Mr J. Weterings, and, the deputy director of Miami Dade
County, Ms. Y. Llort.
The leader of the Dutch expert team, Ms. H. Talens, gave a presentation on
Dutch cycling infrastructure and policy. Then the group split up into two teams:
the Blue team and the Orange team.
The rest of the morning the two teams spent on describing the respective study
areaa, formulating goals and the need for data.
In the afternoon everybody got on their bicycle for a survey of the two study
areas and to collect the necessary data. After the cycling tour each team went
behind closed doors to work on their own street or study area.
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4.2. Orange team
Team members
The orange team consisted of the following team members:
Robert Coffeng, Oranjewoud
Collin Worth, City of Miami
Jeff Cohen, Miami-Dade Public Works
Kathryn Moore, South Florida Bike Coalition
Harvey Bernstein, Miami-Dade Public Works
Nicholas Kuhn, AECOM (landscape architect)
Zach Vanderkooy, Bikes Belong
Roger Horne, YouthBike
Xavier Falconi, City of Miami Beach
Mark Heinicke, Miami-Dade Park & Recreation Department
Study area
The Orange team focused on the North-South route and the connection to Miami
Beach (Venetian Causeway). More specific the work was done in the following
areas:
North Miami Avenue from North 36th Street to North 8th Street
Intersection at North Miami Avenue & North14th Street
Intersection at North Miami Avenue & North 29th Street
NE 14th Street from NE 1st Avenue to Herald Plaza
Existing conditions North Miami Ave 36th St to 8th St
• lane roadway
• posted speed of 30mph
• cars speeding
• road feels unsafe
• dangerous rail road crossing
• drivers parking in outside travel lanes
• Street has alignment offset at North 14th Street
• Gap in sidewalk at railroad crossing
• No bicycle facilities
Existing conditions NE 14th Street from NE 1st Avenue to Herald Plaza
Low traffic volume
Vacant properties/empty lots
Few parking stalls, all underutilized
Street has alignment offset at NE 2nd Ave
Number of lanes changes at NE 2nd Ave
Few shade trees
No bicycle facilities
Results
Goals:
• To create roadways that calm traffic and encourage people to consider cycling
for at least some of their daily trips.
• Create a complete street providing safe and convenient access for all road
users.
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Create safer and more active streets and support communities through livable
street design.
Additional users of a street will promote community development, and
discourage criminal activity. Eyes on the Street.
type of cyclists this would benefit
Involuntary cyclists
Commuters (By Choice)
Recreational Riders
Design Concepts Considered; Dreaming Dutch
• buffered bike lanes
• two-way cycle track
• contra-flow lane
• standard bike lanes
• protected bike lanes
• bike lanes in middle
• off-street greenway
• Roundabouts
Lessons learned:
Drivers aggressive toward cyclists (intimidating)
• Many Cyclists and Drivers don't follow the rules of the road
• lack of enforcement
• lack of education
• Limited way finding, no bike specific way finding
• Connectivity is a challenge with one way sections
• Roadway width encourages speeding (too wide)
• Vehicle detectors loops should also detect bicycles
• Design solutions should increase perceived safety
Proposed solutions:
North Miami Avenue from North 36th Street to North 8th Street (between 29th
and 36th):
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North Miami Avenue from North 36th Street to North 8th Street (between 17th
and 29th):
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Proposed improvement of the Railroad crossing on North Miami Avenue
Proposed improvement Intersection North Miami Avenue and 14th.
This solution is based on a combination of two roundabouts in such a way that
from above it looks like a dog bone. The team came up with an original name for
this new feature: Dogabout.
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Proposed Transition from Venetian Cswy to NE 14 St
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4.3 Blue team
Team members
The blue team consisted of the following team members:
Jeroen Kosters, Gemeente Tilburg
David Henderson, Miami-Dade County
Kit Keller, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
Jess Linn, Miami-Dade Dept. of Planning and Zoning
John Dovel, State of Florida, Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Dat Huynh, State of Florida, Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Stewart Robertson, Kimley-Horn (consultant van FDOT)
Paul Moore, AECOM
Pablo Alonso, State of Florida, Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Derek Slagle, University of Miami
Eric Tullberg, Green Mobility Network
Megan McLaughlin, Dover, Kohl & Partners
Study area
Bicycle route between North Miami Avenue and the Health District, because:
• Connects to largest employer
• Parking is expensive
• Community needs
• Safety and comfort
• Cycling is FUN!!!
The following groups are most likely to be users of this route in the future:
• Neighbours
• Health district stakeholders
• Employees
• Clients
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• Visitors
• Beach-goers
• People who just want to ride
Results
The route could be planned on the 14th Street or on the 17th Street
Arguments in favor of 14th Street:
• Most direct route from Venetian Causeway
• Connects midway between Hospitals and Courthouse
• Wide street
Arguments against this location are:
• Heavy traffic west of ramp
• Must cross a steep hill (over SB I-95)
• Lots of driveways
• Lots of signalized intersections
• Unshaded
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14th Street could look like the picture below when it is redesigned as a bike
route:
The street is wide enough for bike lanes.
The alternative location is 17th Street because:
• Low traffic volume throughout
• Beautiful tree canopy
• More open underpass
• No hill
• Adjacent to park
• More favorable entrance to Health District
• Entrance to Historic Overtown
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The 17th is 38 feet wide.
This is wide enough for bike lanes on both sides. It is possible to make a
protection area (barrier) between the bike lanes and the main street.
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On street sections with dense parking the introduction of bike lanes is possible
too. On one side the parked cars can be used as protection against fast passing
cars.
The Blue team learned the following:
• 6-foot bike lanes: “So people can ride together and feel safe
• Use shrubs between road and cycle path: “Form and function”
• You don’t realize until you are out there: “Bike a mile in my clip-ons”
• Bicycle lanes to the right of on-street parking: “Our vehicle occupancy is only
1.1”
• Need shade: “Need more canopies, west side and south side especially”
• This route does not preclude other routes: “But don’t use a coat of paint on less
desirable route to decrease the quality on the main route”
• Recognize the bicyclists are vulnerable users
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4.4 Green team (communications and marketing of cycling)
Six members out of the two teams had an intensive discussion about the “soft”
aspects of cycling. We discussed three aspects: law and enforcement, education
and promotion/marketing of cycling.
Law and enforcement
• Role model behaviour: policeman must be “more on the bike”. People have
to see policemen cycling, out of an educational point of view. “When
policemen are cycling it must be a good transport mode”.
• More communication about the rules: not only for cyclists (waiting for a
red light) but also for car drivers. They have to learn to deal with cyclists in
traffic. The difficulty is that more than two thirds of the car drivers are
coming from outside Miami FL.
• some laws are difficult to enforce.
Education
Education will cost a long time; it is not like "launching a campaign will increase
the use of the bicycle". It is an approach of continued attention: “permanent
education”.
• Use role models: parents must give a good example to their children and
encourage them to ride their bikes to school etc. Also: (film) actors, rock
stars, sport stars, etc.
• Work with churches, health centres (doctors, nurses), youth centres.
• Provide free trial on the Deco Bikes or give discount on an annual
membership.
• Hold classes and reach out to universities, community colleges, etc.
• Arrange for cycle lessons at schools together with local police.
• Another way to stimulate cycling is a special event. Introducing a family event
to promote cycling; expand the Bike Sundays to real family events.
• More/better drivers education: make new drivers alert to and aware of
bicycles in the streets.
Promotion
The following items can be used in an awareness campaign:
• Posters, displays
• Banners on lampposts
• Radio ads, internet videos
Marketing areas around new bikeways: you have to inform people that there is a
bikeway in their neighborhood. Make the advantages clear. The public already is
aware of the disadvantages.
Other policies
More, better and more continuous sign posting: direction signs for bike routes.
Make driving/parking more expensive: in the Netherlands: the gas price is
$9/gallon and the price of parking in the cities is $20/day
Monitoring bicycle use: counting, surveys
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5. Resources
This chapter contains a detailed overview of web resources which can be used by
the teams for preparation purposes.
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General
• Wikipedia about sustainable mobility
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_mobility
• Wikipedia about mobility (utility) cycling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_cycling
• A definition of mobility management
http://www.ecomm2009.eu/index.phtml?id=1545
• An interesting German campaign to make cycling hip and cool
http://www.radlust.info/en/
• Cycling Rules!
http://www.cyclingrules.org
• Cycle Chic from Copenhagen
http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/
• Website from an Amsterdam bicyclist to inspire others
http://amsterdamize.com/
ƒ Miami and Miami Dade County
The City of Miami’s bike plan is available on-line at:
http://www.miamigov.com/bicycleInitiatives/pages/bicycleMasterPlan.asp.
Websites that focus on bicycling in Miami include:
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Spokes ‘n’ Folks: http://spokesnfolks.blogspot.com/
Green Mobility Network: http://www.greenmobilitynetwork.org/
Miami Bike Scene: http://www.miamibikescene.blogspot.com/
Transit Miami: http://www.transitmiami.com/
Miami Bike Report: http://miamibikereport.com/
South Florida Bike Coalition: http://sfbikecoalition.wordpress.com/
Everglades Bicycle Club: http://evergladesbc.com/cm/
Cycling in the Netherlands
• Brochure “Cycling in the Netherlands” (2009)
• http://www.fietsberaad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/CyclingintheNetherl
ands2009.pdf
• Report Fietsberaad Publication 7: Bicycle policies of the European
principals: continuous and integral
http://www.fietsberaad.nl/index.cfm?lang=nl&repository=Fietsberaad+pub
lication+7+als+dochter+van+de+nederlandse+versie
• Generic Presentation on Cycle Policy and design in the Netherlands
http://www.fietsberaad.nl/index.cfm?lang=nl&repository=Generic+present
ation+Fietsberaad+International
• Page about transportation in Amsterdam on official Amsterdam website
(with info about bikes)
• http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/living/transportation
• Amsterdam Bicycles (82 pictures)
• http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/
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•
Video “Amsterdam: The Bicycling Capitol of Europe”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk6YxhKH590
Video from the same video maker
http://www.iplayerhd.com/player/14e44386-276f-4739-be922f6e057ef2e9.aspx#player
Bicycle Council (governmental expertise centre on bicycle planning)
http://www.fietsberaad.nl/index.cfm?lang=en
About the local South Florida participants of the workshop
City of Miami
http://www.miamigov.com/bicycleInitiatives/pages/
Miami Dade County
www.miamidade.gov/mpo
http://www.miamidade.gov/pubworks/
http://www.miamidade.gov/planzone/
www.miamidade.gov/greatparksummit/overview.asp
Florida Department of Transportation
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/ped_bike/ped_bike_standards.shtm
University of Miami
http://www.miami.edu/index.php/umpd/CampusSafety_faqs_/bicycle_security_
safety/bikesafe/
South Florida Bike Coalition
http://sfbikecoalition.wordpress.com/
Green Mobility Network
http://www.greenmobilitynetwork.org/
http://spokesnfolks.blogspot.com/
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
www.apbp.org
Bikes Belong
http://www.bikesbelong.org/
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6. Overview of Media Coverage
Miami Herald News hard copy front page
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/01/2196030/dutch-expertsbringingbicycle.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/04/2199466/bumpy-road-for-bikes.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/02/2197549/bikers-drivers-can-coexistsafely.html
Miami Herald article was picked up by among others:
http://sec.floridatoday.com/article/0c452UGdJVfOp?q=Florida
http://bx.businessweek.com/bicycle-industry/dutch-experts-bringingbicycleriding-expertise-to-miami/122932343054647755703cf7263a54f8c5af63825abcdbf6ce87/;jsessionid=5E09B9BD0553B3FE7A068063
A24E59E2.nj03bx
http://features.rr.com/article/0c452UGdJVfOp?q=Florida
http://www.topix.com/city/key-biscayne-fl/2011/05/bumpy-road-for-bikes
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/05/02/1727146/dutch-bicycle-expertspushpeddle.html
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/05/02/1996229/dutch-bicycleexpertspush-peddle.html
http://m.mcclatchydc.com/dc/db_12415/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=69661DC
8EE7A0C26642EFCD4F4C74574?contentguid=RGfJwm6R&storycount=9&detailin
dex=1&pn=&ps=&full=true
http://cartruckmotorcycleaccidentlawyers.com/?p=705735
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/05/02/1561698/dutch-bicycle-expertspushpeddle.html
http://www.ongo.com/v/848742/-1/2EFAD3FE8E76C7B6/dutch-expertsbringingbicycle-riding-expertise-to-miami
http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/07kw3jzaDJgcv?q=Miami+Beach
http://features.rr.com/article/07kw3jzaDJgcv?q=Global+Warming
http://www.wopular.com/dutch-experts-bringing-bicycle-riding-expertise-miami
http://outside.in/edgewater-fl
Blogs
http://urbanenvironmentleague.blogspot.com/
http://muckrack.com/link/5045535
http://www.bikenews.org.uk/dutch-experts-bringing-bicycle-riding-expertisetomiami-miamiherald-com/
http://horseracing.msg.com/article/07kw3jzaDJgcv?q=Florida
** http://www.miamiinjurylawyerblawg.com/2011/05/miami-dade-hopingtoincrease.html
http://article.wn.com/view/2011/05/02/Dutch_experts_bringing_bicycleriding_ex
pertise_to_Miami/
http://mybyk.com/commuting/dutch-experts-bringing-bicycle-riding-expertisetomiami/
http://miami.pointslocal.com/news/2011/05/02/miami/305230/dutchexpertsbringing-bicycle-riding-expertise-to-miami
http://www.medical-answers.org/hd/index.php?t=Dutch+bicycle
http://www.doral360.com/2011/05/02/dutch-experts-bringing-bicycleridingexpertise-to-miami/
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http://forums.miamibeach411.com/off-topic-chit-chat/9265-thank-youjesussending-dutch-cycling-experts-miami.html
http://bicyclecritics.com/dutch-experts-bringing-bicycle-riding-expertise-tomiami/
http://www.beachedmiami.com/2011/05/05/podcast-13/
http://www.fmha.org/location/info/562-lower-atlantic-coast-and-miamiflorida/27-communities/
http://www.communitynewspapers.com/kendall-gazette/two-wrongs%E2%80%98make%E2%80%99-a-right/
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7. Personal notes of the Dutch experts
Robert Coffeng
What I remember best is that on the
first day all the participants were
thinking in problems and
impossibilities, because the ‘Green
book’ did not allow experimental
solutions.
After the field trip on bikes and a
discussion mixed with examples from
the Netherlands, the group started
dreaming about possibilities. By doing
so, you could feel the energy growing.
The most striking thing for me was
that in Miami they are not thinking in
target/focus groups (who is the person
on the bicycle, where does he/she
come from and wants to go to) and
targets (we want 50% more students
using bicycle to the Health District)
etcetera, but they just seem to plan
all sorts of infrastructural measures.
I have the impression that the focus is
on building a few bike routes. These
routes are then planned on the easiest
streets instead of in the places where
the demand is highest or meets the user needs best.
I advice the bicycle planners in Miami to learn to think more from a cyclist’s
perspective. Many of them are bikers already so that should not be so difficult.
While cycling through Miami, I experienced that car users have not learned to
deal with cyclists on the road. But on the other hand it was positive to see the
many bicycle facilities that are already built in the streets of Miami, such as
shared streets, bike parking and direction signs.
I still have email contact with members of the Orange team. That is why I
conclude that they are working hard on improving the situation.
In fact, in Miami they have both the desire and the environment to make cycling
there fantastic. The challenge is to bring it all together in a master plan.
Jeroen Kosters
The Dutch consulate together with the local hosts from the city of Miami and the
Miami Dade County did a wonderful job in making us feel welcome and in
creating the right atmosphere for a work shop like this. All the participants did
their utmost to make the workshop a success. They really wanted to learn
something and they were able to put aside their natural and understandable
scepticism for ‘some Dutch experts who flew in to show us how to make bicycle
infrastructure’.
The most amazing thing was how people in the street responded to three
strangers dressed for the office riding by on funny bikes. Most of them smiled
and said hello, some cheered and even applauded.
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Memorable was our arrival at the
Government Building. We had to take
our bikes with us to the meeting room
in the goods elevator. The faces of the
people in the meeting room were
priceless.
The city of Miami is impressive and has
good bicycle opportunities. The flat
wide streets combined with a
reasonable good climate offer plenty
opportunities to promote the use of the
bicycle.
We saw that during the work shop.
Once the traffic engineers decided to
put the Green Book aside, we started
thinking and working ‘out of the box’
and we found many acceptable
solutions.
I have enjoyed attending the work
shops. For me it was a unique
opportunity to see Miami. I hope I can
once return to this city and see the
results of the work shop in the streets.
Hillie Talens
Cycling in Miami is fun. The
climate is fantastic, the area is
pretty flat and there are many
people out doors. It has all the
right ingredients to make cycling
attractive and a good starting
point for a ThinkBike Work shop.
Two days is too short to do
everything we had in mind. We
learned a lot. And most of all we
learned how little we know.
How little the Dutch know about
the every day life in the US,
especially in Miami, how little we
know about the cyclists in cities,
how little we know about the
emotions of the car drivers when
more time and space and money
is spent on cyclists where they are
the motor of the economy.
And on the other hand now I know that the Green Book is important for traffic
engineers in the US. I also learned that traffic engineers in Miami have to deal
with many organizations and people to get their job done. It would be good if
they could join forces and create an official multi organization working group with
its own budget and targets.
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What we wanted to do as the Dutch ThinkBike Workshop Team; we wanted to
teach you to see the world from a cyclist’s perspective. We hope you learned to
think about cyclists as challenges and not as problems. I hope in future you will
respond more as ‘Yes and …….’ to new ideas than as ‘Yes, but …….’. Learn to
think out of the box and to dream of a different world.
So let me conclude by freely quoting Edward Kennedy and George Bernard
Shaw: ‘Some people see things as they are and say why. We dream of things
that never were and say why not.’
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