I-CE: strategy and vision
I-CE is convinced that cycle planning should be integrated into overall urban and transport planning and policies. Through specific programs, I-CE professionals help local authorities to implement these policies and facilities, mainly in developing countries. Cycling and the city-wide infrastructure help create the necessary conditions to urban mass-mobility at low cost. More generally, cycle-inclusive planning contributes to improve health and the environmental and social quality of life and helps fight poverty.
- Therefore, I-CE's action is dedicated to reach the following strategic objectives:
Cycle-inclusive planning
- The specific programming contribution by I-CE in developing countries is based on the use of cycling in four directions: to contribute to poverty reduction, environment improvement, cycle-inclusive planning and management.
- To bring about cycle-inclusive planning1, existing knowledge about a given city should be expressed according to its relevance in terms of cycling, in order to make cycling data "visible" and applicable. It then becomes possible to set a cycling agenda for professionals, cyclists and other actors concerned at the various levels of the public and private sector and of the civil society.
- Potential cycle-inclusive investments may concern such management issues as traffic and transportation, poverty alleviation, social inclusion, health care, education. In order to score the highest percentage of progress, commitment of the city council is needed, as well as the broadest support by the civil society and capacity building in and around the municipal structure.
- I-CE develops the necessary tools to accompany public and private organizations in initiating the process of cycle-inclusive planning and investments based on sustainable development7 principles (social, economic and environmental objectives).
Urban management
- A strong relationship exists between urban form, design of the built environment, location of centres of activity, quantity and quality of infrastructure and travel patterns. In many cases, the private car has caused urban sprawl and, reversely, unconcerned town-planning has induced strong reliance on motorized forms of transport for daily commuting and transport in general. The bigger the cities, the faster their economic development and the more they expand erratically, the more pollution, infrastructure and transport problems they have to cope with. It becomes very difficult to serve an ever growing population by public transport and even by cycling and walking as distances grow constantly.
- As a result, city centres and facilities are becoming less accessible which excludes more and more people from economic and social activities. Besides, health deteriorates and pollution grows.
- Careful planning, design and densification of existing and new neighbourhoods in terms of housing, activities and facilities - preferably within the city limits or around secondary centres - allow for the creation of appropriate public transport networks and continuous, attractive, consistent, safe and direct bicycle and pedestrian routes to connect people, places and activities. This strongly contributes to a better and healthier urban environment and quality of life.
- I-CE assists cities in rapidly developing countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa through local capacity-building and implementation of urban management tools. Objective: improve accessibility, in particular by connecting neighbourhoods, linking activity centres and increasing mobility through the promotion of cycling and walking as modes of transport for daily commuting.
Urban environment
- Through massive car use, the quality of public open spaces and of urban life in general has been seriously downgraded and the domination of the automobile over people established. Which has initiated, mainly in Europe, but since a few years also in cities of South America and South Africa, a "reclaiming the streets" movement in favour of less space and speed for cars, thus providing more "living" space for walking, cycling and more traditional activities like meeting people, children play, street selling, etc. In short, creating a more pleasant and safer street environment and atmosphere.
- This in turn may develop more people oriented, mixed solutions, enabling socially disadvantaged groups of people to move much more, to meet and to mingle in a more "dignified public space". Those can already be seen in Bogota, Cape Town and elsewhere, their objective being to "create healthier, happier, more civilized cities.
- "Reclaiming streets and sharing space" might indeed be the right term for this approach I-CE promotes to improve city livability and people-oriented urban design solutions.
Improving road safety
- Modern road safety concepts focus on the organization of the transport and traffic system in such a way that inevitable human errors do not have fatal consequences. At best, street conflicts should be prevented or at least brought down to acceptable levels.
- Examples of this kind of road safety approach can be found in the Netherlands with their Sustainable road safety system and in Sweden through its Vision zero program. The Dutch experience in particular suggests that taking into account the needs for safe and efficient cycling and walking is at the basis of effective road safety planning.
- If conditions are satisfactory, an increase of cycling results in a sharp decrease of the risk to be killed as a cyclist as well as in a reduction of the number of cycling fatalities4. There is much scope for effective safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians that enhance mobility5.
- I-CE therefore insists on including road safety in cycle-friendly policies to improve overall road safety and produce an effective and safe interaction between the different transport modes.
Fighting poverty
- Mobility is an essential condition for fighting poverty and realizing the UN Millennium Development Goals. For the urban poor, cycling stands for low-cost mobility and can make the difference on the harsh urban markets for income and jobs and give access to education, health care and social integration. However, having access to a bicycle, although an absolute necessity, is not enough. Cycling is only possible if roads exist and if their use is permitted and feasible.
- The need for city-wide interconnected routes should be treated in the context of a complex, global economy, mass migration, housing issues, environmental degradation, water and food problems, domination of the haves versus the have-nots and a metropolitan physiology with physical and financial limits to everything.
Emission control
- The impact of cycling policies on the reduction of CO² emissions depends on the degree in which the increase of cycling mobility results in less use of motorized vehicles (and less vehicle-kilometres!). The potential is highest in developed countries where bicycles are more prone to take over short car trips than in developing countries where there is less car use anyway. In particular in Asia the challenge is to defend cycling. The impact on the reduction of CO² emissions can be increased by including the cycling mode in urban and transport planning policies, e.g. through schemes for public transport which facilitate cycling as a feeder mode.
- The German National Cycling Plan (2002-2012) states that more than 50& of the target for traffic related CO² reduction can be achieved by the further implementation of cycling policies to replace a significant part of short car-trips by bicycle trips6.
- I-CE is convinced that the potential for CO² reduction by the implementation of cycling policies is very high and therefore promotes cycling in particular as a substitute for short car trips.
Better health conditions
- Higher levels of physical activities are associated with reducing risks of all-cause mortality for women and men. Reduced risk can be achieved through relatively modest amounts of physical activity. Regular physical activity:
- reduces the risk of dying prematurely
- reduces the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease
- reduces the risk of developing diabetes
- reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure
- helps reduce blood pressure for people who already have blood pressure
- reduces the risk of developing colon and breast cancer
- reduces feelings of depression and anxiety
- helps control weight
- helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
- helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling
- promotes psychological well-being
- Cycling is ideally placed to contribute to overall activity levels, as one of the few activities that can be carried out as part of daily life, without the need for separate time put aside for exercise. A cycle ride of 15 minutes (at least 3 km for most cyclists) to work, to shop or to meet friends and back would meet the daily recommendation for adults7
- I-CE informs and helps governments, cities and civil society organizations (CSO's) to implement educational programs and activities on the benefit of cycling for better health.
