INTRODUCTION
Cycling is widely regarded as a very efficient and effective transportation for short distance. Bicycles provide benefits in comparison with motor vehicles which including sustained physical exercise that necessarily involved in cycling. Cycling also involves a reduced consumption of fossil fuels, easier parking, less air or noise pollution, greater maneuverability, and much reduced traffic congestion. Moreover, it can reduce financial cost to the users and society at large as less road area required and negligible damage to roads. Transit agencies can significantly increase the areas they can serve by fitting bicycle racks on the front of busses.
In Netherlands and Denmark, the citizens live longer and happier as their mental
…show more content…
After suffering a decline due to post-World War II, automobile innovation is more emerging as a practical mode of modern transportation. The strongest growth in cycling was from the mid-1970s until the early 1990s in Netherlands and Denmark.
Furthermore, bicycle is used for more than a quarter of all journeys in Netherlands. Bicycle is also the most popular transportation mean for distances up to 7.5 kilometer in 2007 and 34% of all trips which up to 7.5 kilometer were made by bicycle. The use of bicycles is not restricted solely to school-going children. Certainly, the bicycle used among those involved in education is the highest (50%) but this only relates to a limited percentage of all journeys (9%).
However, cycling represents low social status and it has a bad image in some countries which means cyclist is apparently could not afford to buy a new car. This is not the case in Netherlands where the use of bicycle is the same for almost every population group. Cycling reflects an environmentally aware and sporty lifestyle in Netherlands. Cyclists are also fairly vulnerable as the safety of cyclist in Netherlands has steadily improved year by year since the cycling infrastructures had been improved and build involving the conduct of road users and the attention of policy-makers pay to the
ISTEA Sec. 1033 (1991) authorized the allocation of national highway system funds as well as federal land highway funds to support the construction of bicycle and walking paths adjacent to highway systems and refurbishing bridges for pedestrian use, up to 80 percent of total cost (“Intermodal Surface Transportation”,1991). At the conclusion of the 6 year scope, ISTEAs impact was viewed as minimal, at best. Dilger (2003) cites a lack of public interest by the American people as the catalyst for the “failure”. Americans would much rather drive to their destination as opposed to riding a bicycle or walking (p. 60).
The running man, hobby horse and velocipede were all names associated with what we know today as the bicycle. The story behind the bicycle has an amazing and catastrophic beginning. It begins in Indonesia in 1815, where an obscure volcano named Mount Tambora erupts dispersing a blast of gas, dust and rocks into the atmosphere. An abundance of ash poured down the mountains flanks and burned grassland and forests. Unwittingly, this explosion contributed to the crop failure in North America and epidemics in Europe. Scientists believe that Tambora was somewhat responsible for the random cold climate that affected most of the Northern Hemisphere in 1816, known as "The Year Without The Summer". In Northeastern United States the weather in mid-may
Bicycling was an exciting experience for two reasons. First, it has allowed me to travel around the city. Second, it gives me a chance to hang out with my friends. I love bicycling, I think it is fabulous! I can now observe my city, the people that lived there, the architecture, and the trees and animals, etc. Sometimes in our life, we just need to slow down our pace. We're so used to rushing through life that we don't even know what we have missed, but It's hard to blame ourselves because we're busy about our jobs especially when we were living in the city. I was once like that; I head right straight to school when it's time for school. As I walk I would only stare at my watch instead if looking to my left and/ or right.
One of the most memorable moments from my childhood was learning how to ride a bike without training wheels. I remember it as if it happened yesterday, however it happened over ten years ago. It’s a process that most people remember doing as a kid. Not only is it exciting, but it’s a proud moment for a child. Learning to ride a bike marks a new chapter in a child’s life in becoming their own person.
When I was seven years old I learned how to ride a bike I started of in a less bumpy place then I started in a more crowded area. I remember the feeling of the wind flowing through my hair as I rode. My step dad and step brother were both cheering me on. They yelled for me to fall over because I was rolling toward the road. I fingered the ground that was as hard as a rock. I was fine I just got up and brushed myself off.
Within the last few decades cars have changed the way people travel. Back in the early 1900’s there were no automobiles, there were only horse and carriage. When Henry Ford created the first assembly line for a car, only the rich and famous would have ford cars. Now cars are easy to purchase as long as you can afford one. As time moves on cars continue to evolve and they are now easily accessible for anyone that wants a car, with fluctuating prices and even more customization choices, peoples are saving up their entire lives to buy their dream cars. Compared to the early twentieth century, cars have made it better to travel from place to place within days or hours while back a hundred years ago, it would take months or years to even get to the other side of the country. In conclusion, cars are the most reliable sources of transportation in the twenty-first century and that is why it is such a great contribution to the world.
Humans are spending too much time driving and not enough time on their physical activity. Not enough physical activity can lead to obesity, and obesity can lead to other health problems. According to Mindell, “Cycling or walking for transport puts physical activity into the daily routine, matching the health benefits of more formal exercise, such as gym membership or organized sport at less cost”(Mindell). If humans spend less time in their cars, and more time into walking and cycling the conditions of their health will increase. Walking or riding a bike costs way less than getting a gym membership. By walking you can save money because it’s free to walk places. Mindell values transportation that involves any kind of exercise versus driving everywhere. He values human health and everyday physical
Dutch people are generally tall with light hair and eyes. They are also very house proud, meaning they keep their houses well-kept and tidy. Most people live in the cities, which are very well urbanized. Christianity is the main religion, split between Protestants and Catholic Faiths. Although, many people in Netherlands have no religion. Many Dutch spend their free time alone with family or tending their gardens. Cafes are also an important part of the Dutch lifestyle, with either a brown or white café. Brown cafes are older and cozier, while white cafes are modern. Dutch are also the main producers of cheese! They are very fond of cheese, with their main kinds being either Gouda or Edam. Six major types of cheese are produced by the Dutch and exported around the world. So without Netherlands, there would be no cheese. The arts have a large role in Dutch culture. Painting is a huge part of Dutch history and culture. The paintings produced in the Golden Age of Netherlands are cherished around the world. Music is also a part of culture the Dutch are fond of. Musicians are regularly playing on the streets, and many families have one or more members who play an instrument. “The Netherlands has produced many talented musicians. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague are two of the finest ensembles in the world.” This just goes to show how arts has been a main part of Dutch life and
Economic benefits for local and national economy as well as some less tangible benefits play a major role when investments are made on bicycle, pedestrian, and open space facilities. Some of the economic benefits from such infrastructures come from increased retail sales, conservation and creation of jobs, reduced health care costs, and real estate appreciation. The facilities discussed also ease road traffic and lead to a better preservation of roads. Investing in these facilities also improves the air quality, preserves carbon-based energy, and aids in creating more active communities. I will review five articles that will quantify each benefit and translate them into economic value.
Today, people use their own personal vehicles to travel more than ever before. Personal transportation is no longer considered a luxury; it is now considered a necessity. The number of cars in the United States has been growing steadily since the 1970s. The number of miles traveled by cars has risen nearly 150 percent, yet the United States population has only grown roughly 40 percent during that time (hybridcars.com, Driving Trends). Although it may seem like we are advancing into the future, in reality, we are moving backwards from the effects these vehicles have on our bodies and the environment. The pollution produced by these vehicles has brought us to the day where we must find other modes of transportation that cause less harm to the world in which we live. Advances in technology have developed hybrid vehicles to try and slow down the amount of pollution. Driving a hybrid vehicle, instead of a conventional gas powered vehicle, can reduce the amount of pollution that affects our lives and the environment around us.
Some people believe that the benefits of the automobile far outweigh the consequences. These people enjoy their privacy and the convenience of the automobile. There are no schedules to keep track of. A person can come and go from a destination at their own free will. They also have the ability to travel and see scenery that people limited to public transportation cannot. Today there is about one car on the road for every person of driving age in the United States. People for alternative forms of transportation think that people who support cars should be penalized for using them. They believe that they should pay more taxes for the convenience of owning an automobile. In Europe, anti-auto policies are in effect and Europeans still buy cars. James Q. Wilson in "Cars and Their Enemies" gives the example, "Despite policies that penalize car use, make travel expensive, and restrict parking spaces, Europeans, once they can afford to do so, buy cars, and drive them" (306). Cars are just too convenient to get rid of.
The market can be divided into 2 categories men and women. In the category of men Men: Men under 30 group accounts for 44% of all sales. Therefore, a great opportunity exists here because of the group's size. This group's members buy motorcycles for their transportation and recreation needs. Men in this group buy more of mopeds, scooters and entry level lightweight road bikes. Men between 30 and 50 makes up 45% of buyers. The motorcycles most frequently purchased are the heavyweight tourers and cruisers. Many buyers are married couples looking for an alternative to taking the car out for weekend drives to the country. Men over 50 group accounts for about 11% of motorcycle sales. The heavyweight touring class and the middleweight road bike categories account for most of the sales here. Women group is a segment that is growing at a fast rate, and represents an opportunity area.
We all use vehicles for transportation. People usually go to their desired destination either by driving their own cars or traveling in public transportation. Actually, it might be tough to choose that which one is the best selection for people to travel. Many people choose one of them according to their comfort while traveling and both of them have advantages and disadvantages in different conditions. Public transportation and driving own car both shares differences and similarities in many aspects, such as facility, cost, and comfort as well as traffic jam and accident occurrence.
On the contrary, using private car is the same convenience of travelling as public transport. When people are in a hurry, they can suddenly go ev...