Russland: Fahrräder stehen wieder hoch im Kurs

The very beginning of June was marked by the opening of the longest bicycle lane in Moscow that meanders for over 16 km in the centre of the Russian capital. In addition to that, the city-wide bike rental network has been introduced. To take a bike, one should register on the special website or through mobile application and provide personal credit card details. The first half hour is free of charge.

While segregated bikeways and bike rentals are very common in Europe, especially in the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia, they are still a rarity in Russia to be found mostly in the city parks. That’s why the new introductions have made a fuss among Muscovites and become the top news stories of June.
For a long time the development of cycle facilities in Russia was neglected. The main argument of decision-makers was the unfavourable weather conditions during winter (Oh, come on! Winters can be harsh in Europe too, especially in Sweden or Norway, but it doesn’t stop thousands of European cyclists from riding their bikes every day). There are still some safety concerns, as Russians are simply not used to cyclists in the city. Difficulties await bike riders even in parks and residential areas, where cycle lanes are occupied by parked cars or walking pedestrians.

After the new, young and proactive, team took over the Moscow City Hall in 2010, the development of alternative environmentally-friendly means of urban transport has become one of the city priorities. 82 km of bike lanes have been marked in Moscow already with the goal to extend the network up to 150 km by 2016. Another objective is to build up 17,000 parking spaces for bicycles in the city. 20 first parking spots will pop up already this summer.

Other Russian cities follow the capital’s lead. For instance, a new web-portal www.bikable.ru developed by the group of cycling activists in St. Petersburg provides a platform for on-line discussions between the citizens and local authorities about the development of cycle facilities in the city. In order to promote cycling, a large bike parade took place in ‘The Northern Capital’ of Russia on the 1st of July. Many more cycling activities are scheduled throughout Russia for this summer. Seems like it’s perfect time to buy a new bike for myself.

Interesting facts:
• Using a bicycle instead of a private car can reduce individual greenhouse gas emissions by about 1 tonne of CO2 per year.
• The first segregated bike lane in Russia appeared in Moscow in 1897. It was very popular at that time.
• There are about 3 million bikes in Moscow, but only 12,000 people use them for commuting rides.
• Moscow has 82 km of bicycle lanes. By 2016, their length will be extended to 150 km. In St. Petersburg there are only 4 cycle lanes with a total length of 25 km.
• In Copenhagen, about 32% of residents ride their bikes to work and back home every day.
• In Amsterdam, bicycles make up for 40% of the traffic. The length of the bike lanes in this city is 400 km - the world’s record number.