Interesting! Have you mapped out what your commute would you look like if you walked or biked to work? How long would it *really* take?

“A new study published in a journal called Transportmetrica A: Transport Science shows that people often overestimate the time required to commute actively, a miscalculation especially common when someone has secured a parking permit near the office.

The survey participants proved to be generally poor at guessing active-commuting times. About 90 percent of their estimates were too long by at least 10 minutes. The few assessments close to Google’s were almost always made by riders or walkers.”

Illustration by Giacomo Bagnara

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From The Guardian.com: “European cities occupy seven of the top 10 spots, with Zurich at number two.

“The Swiss city’s public transport system is highly affordable, modern and efficient – all reasons why it takes first place in the profit sub-index. More people work in Zurich than live there, so expanding the public transport network and improving its upkeep and accessibility are key parts of the local government’s mobility strategy. A visionary part of the strategy is the cargo sous terrain project, an underground freight system, that will use driverless vehicles for unloading and distributing goods.”

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A few fun, constructive thoughts on what makes a “complete street”, from CityFix.com:

“Complete streets designs ensure mobility to road users of all types by designing facilities that are safe, accessible, and welcoming. They can improve the efficiency of a space, reduce congestion as well as improve the performance of transport networks. Keep an eye out for elements of complete streets in your neighbourhood – and if you don’t see them, help make cities better for everyone by getting involved or speaking to your local government.”

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“People unfamiliar with the idea of the bicycle as real transportation sometimes see Amsterdam—the famously bike-friendly Dutch capital—as a fantasyland that has very little to do with the grown-up transportation world of cars and trucks. In reality, a readjustment of perspective is needed, since Amsterdam has succeeded in creating a transportation system that is one of the most successful in the world.”

“Making a city where most trips are done on bikes requires utterly discarding conventional car-centric ways of thinking about transportation. Over the last 60 years, Amsterdam’s leaders, planners and designers have by trial and error created a template for a city where bikes are the dominant force in transportation planning and design. That template has five essential characteristics; skip or short-change any one of them and your city of bikes won’t work as well.”

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A few colourful and concise thoughts on getting around to jump start this short work week. Enjoy!

From Planetizen.com: “Sustainable, inclusive, prosperous, and resilient cities depend on transportation that facilitates the safe, efficient and pollution-free flow of people and goods, while also providing affordable, healthy, and integrated mobility for all. Innovative shared and autonomous transportation services can have profound impacts on community quality of life and resident’s access to opportunity. (more…)