Reshaping City Traffic Towards Sustainability Why Transport Policy should Favor the Bicycle Instead of Car Traffic

Abstract

Most cities suffer from congestion and various traffic problems. Faltering public budgets do not allow expenditures for costly transport infrastructure. A recently conducted study on Vienna's inner-city traffic compared resulting financial effects of bicycle and car traffic on the economy as a whole. Health, travel times, accidents, vehicle operation and maintenance, traffic noise, CO2 and pollutants emissions were addressed. Per kilometer travelled, cyclists generate a surplus in external costs of 0.81 € whereas car traffic causes a loss of 0.04 €. Bicycling improves health and solves inner cities’ transport and budget problems. Therefore bicycling should be promoted unconditionally.