Challenges to Making Cycling a Key Element
of Budapest's Transport System

By GREG SPENCER

Central European University

Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy

Master's Thesis

2004-2005

Abstract

In cities around the world, people have embraced bicycling as an antidote to the environmental ills associated with cars: air and noise pollution, congestion, the take up of public space by parked vehicles, the drain on natural resouces. In northern Europe, where cycling tends to be quite popular, cyclists command significant modal shares in the urban transport structure. In Amsterdam, almost a third of commuters go by bike, while in Copenhagen, Salzburg and Munich the modal shares are all above 15 percent. But as in many cities around the world, cyclists in Budapest have only a marginal modal share, about 1-2 percent.

Public opinion polls show that Budapest residents are growing increasingly frustrated with traffic congestion, the use of sidewalks as car parks, and other problems associated with automobiles. A policy switch aimed at promoting cycling as a more civil and humane alternative to the car could address this disaffection. This thesis examines the particular challenges to achieving such a switch in Budapest. They include an unfortunate stigma dating from the Socialist era of bicycles being a proletarian or peasant vehicle; skyrocketing car use and the car as status symbol; a weak NGO movement; poor cycling infrastructure; and a lack of significant political support or policy.

The thesis looks at a recent European example of a city that has created a vibrant cycling culture from the ground up. Paris, confronted in the mid-90s with a population exasperated by congestion and pollution, embarked on a systematic campaign to promote cycling. It included infrastructure investments, public awareness raising and an attack on private car use. In the first six years of the campaign, cycling levels jumped by almost 60 percent.

The thesis concludes that Budapest could follow in Paris's footsteps if city leaders chose to do so - and if NGOs provided the necessary pressure. The first priority is significant improvement to the bike path network. Presently, the system doesn't cover enough of the city, and the existing paths are neither safe nor fast. Several signs point to rising interest in cycling - including the stunning attendance at a recent Critical Mass, the biannual demonstration intended to raise awareness of the road rights of cyclists. The fall 2005 Critical Mass drew 20,000 participants, about four times as many as in the previous year's event. Evidence strongly suggests that the population would respond positively to a promotion campaign similar to Paris's. The onus is on the city to follow through.

Keywords: Bicycle, bicyling, utilitarian cycling, commuter cycling, Budapest, Hungary, Central and Eastern Europe, Paris, France, Delano ë, Demszky, Tibéri, Critical Mass, modal share, urban transport, bike path

 

Download complete thesis (PDF): www.greenmedia.hu/gspencer/thesis_gspencer.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

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