A bicycle is becoming a more and more popular means of transport in towns and cities because it is affordable to a wider range of users and provides an intensive experience of the environment. Compared to cars, bicycles also require much less space and at the same time they do not pollute either with noise or emissions. To this end, we have to provide for adequate traffic areas through which cyclists will rapidly arrive at their destination and feel safe and comfortable.
A comparison of a Slovenian and American handbook for designing cycling surfaces shows a lot of more daring solutions of the latter, which is logical, because the US has been introducing modern cycling infrastructure for a long time. However, I think that our guide is a bit too conservative and therefore needs updates and foremost a bit more daring.
More attention should be paid to the cycling lanes and shared cycling facilities that are somewhat neglected in our country mainly because they are a little more uncomfortable bike areas. However, it is important to know that they can be made more comfortable and more user-friendly if we introduce some more appropriate measures.
Another topic that needs a little more updating are crossroads and junctions. Crossroads yield significant delays and most accidents take place due to them.There are solutions for both of the problems - some of which are already in our guide, but, nevertheless, it is also necessary to take a step forward here. A guide should tell you something about measures on how to increase the popularity of cycling which are not related to cycling surfaces. It is all about promoting cycling and informing people about the benefits of using bicycles.
A modernization of bike areas is definitely a time-consuming process that has to be tackled with a good long-term plan which includes a gradual introduction of innovations, gives new information, and encourages people to use bicycles.
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