Public Participation and Cycling Policy: A (Social) Media Based Approach to Create New Cycling Cultures

Transcription

1 Public Participation and Cycling Policy: A (Social) Media Based Approach to Create New Cycling Cultures Andrej Klemenc, REC Slovenija Velo-city 2013 Lightning Talk, Vienna, June

2 The Content of the Presentation Brief presentation of REC Slovenia and the author Civitas Elan project: experiences and relevant lessons for public participation in urban cycling matters Bike-track-Bike project: limits of NSM in citizens engagement in cycling policy and creation of new cycling cultures in cities Thesis for discussion

3 REC Slovenia Established in 1994 a part of the network of The Regional Environmental Center an international non-partisan non profit organisation with headquarters located in Szentendre near Budapest (H) and 17 local offices in CEE countries, REC s Mission: to bridge the gabs between countries, governments, businesses and NGOs in order to enhance environmental protection and support sustainable development in CEE good combination of natural and human sciences Initially focused on support to development of environmental NGO sector and public participation in (environmental) policy and decision making REC Slovenia is since 2004 also engaged in urban transport and mobility management issue with particular focus on cycling: Past projects in the field of urban cycling: CIVITAS MOBILIS & CIVITAS ELAN On-going projects: MOBILE2020 ( and Bike-Track-Bike ( Andrej Klemenc; 1963, cyclists since 1968 b.a. in political science (1987), teaching assistant on social and political philosophy ( ), free lance researcher and editor on environmental & energy policy ( ), secretary general and project manager of an alternative energy NGO ( ), since 2008 employed at REC; Funding member and member of executive boards of Ljubljana and Slovenia Cyclists Network REC Slovenia Slovenska cesta 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Phone: (+386-1) Fax: (+386-1) info@rec-lj.si; Web: slovenia.rec.org

4 CIVITAS ELAN: Comprehensive Cycling Strategy of the City of Ljubljana Inclusive and participatory approach : CYCLING PLATFORM OF THE CITY OF LJUBLJANA: -Ljubljana Cyclists Network, Slovenian Cyclists Federation, transport & environment NGOs -departments of urban planning, transport and environmental protection of the City of Ljubljana, city traffic wardens -Cycling Coordinator of the City of Ljubljana, city districts representatives, transport and mobility experts -Citizens interested in cycling and mobility Activities Discussions on cycling planning, network (infrastructure) and services in the city Presentations of and inputs to Master Urban Plan and Detailed Urban Plan of Ljubljana Comments and suggestions to the draft of the Comprehensive Cycling Strategy Inputs to Transport Strategy of the City of Ljubljana Cycling promotion events: city tours, parades, expositions and Bike Festival 2012 Results: Draft Comprehensive Cycling Strategy Cycling integrated in new Transport Strategy of the City Improved visibility and diversity of cycling Main Lesson: good approach to engage and network different actors but not sufficient to attract and engage ordinary non organised cyclists and potential cyclists

5 What is B-Track-B? B-Track-B ( Bike-the-Track-Track-the- Bike ) combines understanding about social marketing, behavior change and smart technologies to get more people cycling, reaching out to groups that are not reached by conventional cycling promotion. This fun concept sets up check-points across cities to track, reward and encourage more trips by bicycle. B-TRACK-B facebook.com/btrackb twitter.com/btrackb Who can use it? Techniques used to track and reward cyclists in the B-Track-B package include RFID Tags, Phone App, and Stamp Cards. All these different techniques can be tailored to suit your city. See Cities, schools, companies and anyone wanting to boost levels of cycling. The program can be implemented on a city-wide scale, at strategic locations (schools, cinemas etc.) or at various checkpoints across the city. It can also be adapted to public bike share systems. We can create a B-Track B program to suit your needs. CURRENT CITIES SIGNED UP: Ljubljana (Slovenia), Munster (Germany), Algarve (Portugal), Espoo (Finland), Fredericia (Denmark) & Venice (Italy) USING ICT AND NSM TO GET MORE PEOPLE CYCLING CASE STUDIES: Helmond, The Netherlands: By rewarding people for parking their bicycles in specific locations, the city s campaign was able to reach 3% of the entire population in 2 years. Frederica, Denmark: By rewarding people cycling to work and school, the city now has cyclists participating in the program in just two years with more than 75,000 cycle trips already recorded. See

6 What the B-Track-B offers to participants? A website to register and get all information on the mission, goals and activities of the project as well as to track your own and other registered users cycling activities. News on relevant activities and events by , Facebook and Twitter Participation on traditional family recreational cycling activities in and around the city Workshops of how to fix your bicycle and lectures on cycling adventures/trips/holidays This program works. 50% of participants cycle more often. Troels Andersen (Cycle Planner, Frederica, Denmark Lottery (awards: bicycles, bicycle bags and cloths etc.) based on a principle more registered cycled trips better chance to win a price Why does it not work in Ljubljana (yet)? Approach in Ljubljana partnership with 4 primary schools to engage at least 100 pupils aged 9-14 plus at least 300 members of their families registration on web site (also possible by nickname) + stamp cards + km counters 26 spots (libraries, youth culture centres, cinemas, pizzerias, shops, zoo) in the city to get stamp cards (= lottery tickets) for each bicycle visit by registered participant Because it is/was not: based on RFID counters or smart phones but on stamp cards? well supported by ordinary media (press, TV)? started by a big bang event? operated by well recognised and strong cycling organisation? operated by city a administration itself?

7 Thesis for a discussion: Traditional forms of public participation (meetings, workshops, round tables, moderated discussions etc.) are efficient in engagement of well structured, organised and financially supported stakeholders with already defined interests. In order to assure broader participation of utility cyclists and potential cyclists both less formal, more opened and creative live events and NSM based activities (web forums, Facebook, twitter) are needed. First comprehensive design and appropriate timing of formal and informal participation and traditional and NSM will make available to explore full scope of public participation (also) in cycling policy. Traditional forms of promotion of cycling culture like cycling parades, critical mass events, cycling festivals can only be upgraded but not replaced by virtual reality pro cycling events. Effective cycling culture promotion and policy participation will remain based on body and bicycle representation on life events since cycling is finally a physical and not only a mental act. NSM can therefore just complement but not replace traditional forms of public participation in cycling policy, their role in creating cycling chick and new cycling cultures is by far larger yet it still remains bound on the act of cycling (togther).