CEE Seminar: Cycling for Sustainable Cities

Please consider joining the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for this seminar on sustainable urban travel.

ABSTRACT: Cycling is the most sustainable means of urban travel, practical for most short- and medium-distance trips—commuting to and from work and school, shopping, visiting friends—as well as for recreation and exercise. Cycling promotes physical, social, and mental health, helps reduce car use, enhances mobility and independence, and is economical for both public and personal budgets.

This presentation explores how to make city cycling—the most sustainable means of travel—safe, practical, and convenient for all. Buehler and Pucher discuss the latest cycling trends and policies around the world and consider specific aspects of cycling. Taken together, the presentation demonstrates that successful promotion of cycling depends on a coordinated package of mutually supportive infrastructure, programs, and policies. Cycling should be made feasible for everyone and not limited to especially fit, daring, well-trained cyclists riding expensive bicycles.

Bios:

Ralph Buehler: Ph.D. is Professor and Chair of Urban Affairs and Planning in the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech’s Research Center in Arlington, VA. Most of his research has an international comparative perspective, contrasting transport and land-use policies, transport systems, and travel behavior in Western Europe and North America. Between 2012 and 2018, he served as chair of the Committee for Bicycle Transportation of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). His research interests include: (1) the influence of transport policy, land use, and socio-demographics on travel behavior; (2) active travel and public health; and (3) public transport demand, supply, regional coordination, and financial efficiency.

John Pucher: Ph.D. is professor emeritus at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, in New Jersey.  He was a professor at Rutgers University from 1978 to 2014, conducting research on urban transportation in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe.  Over the past 25 years, John’s research has focused on walking and bicycling, and how to improve their safety and convenience for all age groups, for women as well as men, and for all levels of physical ability. John has published four books and over 200 articles in academic and professional journals.  His most recent book, “Cycling for Sustainable Cities,” was published by MIT Press in February 2021.