How Can the Urban Environment and Bicycle Transportation Be Improved to Discourage Automobile Use for Short Trips?

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Cycling is recognized, within New Zealand, as a desirable and necessary part of a sustainable urban transport system. Currently, two thirds of all driving trips in New Zealand are less than six kilometers long, and one third are less than two kilometers long. Despite a strong record of bicycle advocacy, and governmental strategic plans to promote cycling as transport, New Zealand has seen a continual decline in utility cyclist numbers since 1989. In 2006, only 2.4% of journeys to or from a place of work, and only 1% of all journeys were made by bicycle. Product design methodology focuses on understanding user needs, and creating products, services or facilities that meet those needs. A successful product always meets or exceeds user expectations. This study applies the product design methodology to bicycle transportation in New Zealand. The first phase of this study, presented here, reviews global best practice for bicycle, service and facility design and compares that to New Zealand user and stakeholder needs. The study highlights the local nature of transportation design, and shows how global best practices need to be tuned to local user and stakeholder needs in order to succeed.

Stream: Economic Sustainability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Dr Paul Smith has worked in Product Design and Development since 1997. He has been successful in applying innovative product development processes within the European automotive industry but, since moving to Massey University in New Zealand in 2004, he has focussed on his passion for sustainable design. His research interests cover bicycle transportation design, manufacturing and material development for eco-effective products, and the process of innovation.