 Cycling can be a real time saver particular in urban areas
You can save time getting to and from work or study, make extra time by cycling instead of going to the gym and even have more time to do those leisure activities you have always wanted to do but never seem to have the time for. Leaving the car at home and commuting by bicycle, especially in our capital cities can mean that you actually arrive at work or school earlier and in a better frame of mind.
- Average speed of an experienced cyclist in urban areas is between 15km to 20 km/hr.
- Average speed of a car during peak hour traffic is between 22km/hr to 35km/hr.
Did you know?
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Most people underestimate the time it takes them to travel by car and overestimate the time it would take them to cycle or walk
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When travel time is measured from door to door, distances up to 5km on congested urban roads are generally faster on a bicycle than by car.
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Cars are a big financial investment and time is money. According to Dr. Paul Tranter calculating the effective speed of a transport mode needs to consider not only the travel time but also the time to park and maintenance as well as the cost of purchasing the vehicle, the insurance, petrol, repairs and parking which is being used to calculate the time required to work to cover this cost. For more information on the effective speed concept
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Click here for the presentation by Dr. Tranter to VicHealth. Using this measurement tool, cars are much less efficient than bikes.
Beat Congestion
Cycling at a speed of 15km/hr for a trip of around 5 km is easily achievable without the need to have a shower or get changed, making many journeys more convenient and quicker by bike. There is clear evidence that building more roads does not solve the issue of congestion, in contrary it induces greater demand. The increase in demand occurs because when more road space is added traffic congestion temporarily drops and it becomes more attractive for drivers to use the road.
This can result in drivers making longer trips or making short trips more often than they did before.
For more information on induced demand click here.
If 5% of all trips under 5km during peak hour traffic would be made by bicycle, congestion could be reduced considerably, improving conditions for all road users without expanding road space.
Journey Times
Replacing some of your trips by bicycle is a great way to save time and money and have fun at the same time. Short cycle trips by bicycle are often quicker than taking and parking a car (and think of all the gym time you save!) If your trip is too long to cycle, consider riding to to station or the bus stop.
Click here on the fact sheet: Travelling by bicycle is faster than you think
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Benefits of Cycling