NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27

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Text File | 1992-11-21 | 15.9 KB | 367 lines

Newsgroups: sci.energy Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!ames!agate!apple!mumbo.apple.com!michael.apple.com!ems From: ems@michael.apple.com (E. Michael Smith) Subject: CUBA goes biking ... (What oil shortage?) Message-ID: <1992Nov22.050709.25031@michael.apple.com> Organization: Apple Computer Inc. Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 05:07:09 GMT Lines: 357 A Friend sent me this ... makes interesting reading in the context of oil dependence; and it puts an interesting perspective on the folks who advocate bikes as the answer to everything ... Hint: what do you do when your Big Brother takes his oil and money away?? Asunto: Internacional eventCycles: An Option for the XXI Century. -------------------------------------------------------- On April 13-16,1993, at the Convention Palace, Havana, Cuba, will be held the International Event "Cycles: An Option for the XXI Century". The subjects to discuss will be, among others: -The bycicle and its relation to health -Cycle turism and ecology. -Movility alternative for youth -Education and transit safety. -Streets and roads system. -Bicycles production, maintenance and repair. Conferences and rounds tables will take place, and papers and posters may be presented. Stands will be available for scientifics and commercial exhibits. Will be sending later more detailed information about it. For furthermore information, contact us by E. mails: transel@tinored.cu iitransp@ceniad.cu Dr. Humberto Valdes Senior Scientits Head Laboratory on Economy and Organization of Passengers Transportation Transportation Research Institute. Aptdo, Postal 17029 Habana 17 C.P. 11700 CUBA ** End of text from cdp:transport ** /** transport: 75.0 **/ ** Topic: Cuban Bicycle Report ** ** Written 5:36 pm Sep 25, 1992 by larris in cdp:transport ** From: Lelani Arris <larris> Subject: Cuban Bicycle Report /* Written 8:54 pm Sep 23, 1992 by transel@tinored.cu in cdp:aus.bicycle */ /* ---------- "bicicletas" ---------- */ From: transel@tinored.cu (Dpto. Inf. Cientifica-IIT ) Subject: bicicletas ABSTRACT -------- NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN CUBA. A case study on sustainable transport, environment and development. Author: Humberto Valdes Rios, PhD Background: Only in a few towns (Cardenas, Guines, Sagua la Grande and Camaguey), tradition about the use of bicycles as mean of transport. For example, in Cardenas were 280 bicycles per 1000 inhabitants. In Cuba, bicycles were used like toys and for recreation. Only in some case, they were used to help the labor of carriers in drugstores, groceries, and so on. It was before 1960-1961. Today, like was before the mentioned date, the postmen with cablegrams, use bikes for deliveries. In 1964 was inaugurated the first bicycle's factory in Cuba-named "Heriberto Mederos"-, with capacity to produce 20,0 thousands bikes yearly, but in the period from 1964 to 1982, only 43,4 thousands bicycles were made, because the production was unstable, included some years interrupted. The main bycicle's components were imported from Czechoslovakia. In the period from 1961 to 1990, were sold 1 914,2 thousands imported bicycles in Cuba, but in this period transport of population and goods were depended largely upon motorized means of transport, with all their disadventages (oil consumption, air pollution and noise, high investment and operation cost, and so on). The rol of bicycles in urban transportation was insignificant, and for that reason, they were not included in urban transportation studies on main cities, and also in urban planning. The Cuban Since 1989, the political and socio economical Economy changes in the Economy of Eastern European countries, and more recently in the ex-Soviet Union, determined a decrease in import-export relations. As a result of the collapse of the Eastern Block trading partners, a decrease in petrol imports was determined step-by-step, and now is around the 50%, and gasoline and diesel consumption have been rationed tightly. Another adverse factors were: external debt, scarce of hard curriencies, increase of interest rates, decrease of international prices for main exports (sugar, for example), difficulties for exportation and importation, no loans, and the U.S.A. blockade. Because hard curriences are scarce, and they are indispensable for buy oil lubricants, spare parts, and loans are necesary for buy new vehicles, that even maintenance the current motorized transport capacities appears very difficult. The Cuban Government had to find some transportation alternatives, less dependent on hard currency, petrol consumption, and with others adventages. The bicycles were rediscovered as a potencial means of solving share of the transport problems for the majority of the cuban people. They were rediscovered like appropiate transport tecnology. Now, bicycle transport is a corner stone to the new cuban energy reduction strategy, and also concerning physical and cultural environment of the country, and made possible many other measure that would further humanize the cities. The bicycles are here- in Cuba-to stay. The Cuban In 1991, as a result of the new governmental "Velorution bicycle's policy, in Cuban ": were sold 623,5 thousand assembled bicycles, 20,9 thousand imported bicycles, and 4,0 thousand cuban bicycles. Only in Havana were sold 462,4 thousand bicycles. The 59% of bicycles assembled in Cuba, were made by students in several technologicals centers (technological schools), and 3,2 thousand students take part in the production process. Those bicycles were imported C.K.D. from the People's Republic of China. The rest, were assembled by workers in several workshops afeected by the reduction of imports (raw materials and so on). At the end of 1991 started the mass production of the new cuban bicycles in five factories. Each factory will be capable to produce 20,0 thousand bikes yearly, as well as tricycles and other models. Until July 30,1992, 33,4 thousand bikes were made in the new cuban factories. In next few months, production capacity will be increased up to 100,0 thousand bikes in each factory. Consecuently was organized the production of bicycle's components and tools, as well as pneumatic tires and tubes, accesories, spare odels of cuban bikes will be improved, and bicycles with cables, freewhels, and so on, will be introduced as soon as possible, in the next few year, and then, they will be ready for international markets. The assembled bicycles are sold to cuban workers in 130 cuban pesos, and the same bicycles are sold to students in 65 cuban pesos. Sales are on credit (without interest rates), and the payments period could be up to 2 years long. This financing is a key-part to the bicycle's program success. The mean monthly salary in Cuba is 192 cuban pesos. Also 60,0 thousand tricycles will be sold in 1992 to several enterprises, from which more than 4,6 thousand wiil be in Havana. Some solutions a. For bicycle traffic safety and facilities -------------------------- in Havana in The Traffic Police installed more than 1100 signals concerning : bicycles. There are now more than 60 km, of bike lanes on the main roads. A new- and the first - bike path way was buildind at the east side of the city (from Alamar to Playa El Megano). Bicycles traffic in prohibited only in 4,8 km on the main roads in the city, for the best safety of cyclists. b. For cyclist traffic education ----------------------------- There is a campaign about traffic education, for cyclists, pedestrians, and automobilists. In 1991 Traffic Police organized 177 workshops to workers and students relating bicycle's traffic safety. More than 10 TV programs were dedicated to cyclist traffic safety, and other issues concerning cycling. More than 120 radio programs were dedicated to different things concerning cycling. 20 thousand pamphlets were printed, and also was edited an education material: "Course (or lessons) of Traffic for Cyclists". Some roads are closed on saturdays and sundays for bicycle training. c. An special solution for the commonication to the east side Bicycles can cross the harbor tunnel aboard flat bed trailers, and "cyclobuses" (buses only for bicycle's tranfers). Also cyclist can cross the tunnel walking, and soon they can do it cycling. Bike boats on separate routes traverse the Havana Bay. Results of Differents cuban organizations began to carry out studies on the researches:implementation of bicycle's policy. The Cuban Institute for Research and Promotion of Internal Demand made a household research, it found that 47% of home in Havana had at least one bicycle in november 1991. (In december 1990, only 13% of home had 1 bicycle). The Transportation Research Institute made a research in 9 work centres and 1 school centres, and there was 21% of the bicycles on parking, (march 1992), they are use to working trips every day. In interviews done when cyclist cross the tunnel under the Havana Bay, was determined that 85% of cyclist were men, and 15% were females. The average age of cyclist was 28 years old. The 68% were workers, and the 27% were students. Other bicycle's Since 1991, in the city of Havana: facilities in pneumatics tires and tubes, and some other bicycle's parts (components). - Has founded a network of 44 repairing workshops for bikes, and will increased in next few months. - Has set up 14 places for bicycle's parking, in city centers. In enterprises and schools, there are bicycle's parking facilities. - In 78 places, equipments had been installed for service air to bicycle's pneumatic tires. - In 63 workshops, the cyclists can repair their pneumatic tires. Benefits of On traffic accidents bicycle's -------------------- policy: The reduction of motorized transport in 1991, decrease traffic accidents by 21%, fatalities by 8%, and injuries by 2%. In Havana traffic accidents decrease by 34%. On the Environment ------------------ The decrease, at least in 30%, in the emission of pollulants: created by motorized transport before ( carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hidrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, lampblack and others). On Human Health --------------- Reduction of stress created by the use of public transport, as well as the improvement of physical health, by the practice of cycling. Reduction of stress created by traffic congestion. On the Economy -------------- Only in Havana, the economic benefits of the use of bicycles, can be estimated in at least 11,5 million US dollars in 1991 by the transfer of passengers that used urban buses to bikes. Also is a reduction by less use of the rest of motorized transport. On Development -------------- The creation of sustainasble transportation technology, appropiate to economic and social development conditions in Cuba, with limited resources. Restrictions Unfortunately, HELMETS are non-existent, less to improve the than 50% of the bicycles have dinamo lighting nt, Program: and too many cyclists have had any familiarity with traffic rules of the road . There are not enough materials to increase, and to improve traffic signals (horizontal and vertical), and special semaphores. There are not enough resources and materials to improve pavement surface, or to build bike paths (cycle ways included), now in project. There is not enough paper and other resources, for propoganda (pamphlet pediodical publications, printer matter, and so on), and safety education of cyclists. There are some restrictions in resources to build parking areas for bicycles, in public centers as well as residential areas. There is not hard currency to buy bibliography (technical) abaut bicycling facilities, and so on, for interchange knowohow, and experiences with other countries (developed and developing). Resources to improve the workshops concerning repair and maintenance of bicycles are scarce, as well as for some services to the cyclists (for example: bombs for air services). Transport specialist, as well as urban planners, have now things to study and to learn about the use of bicycles as a mean of transport in the community. ** End of text from cdp:transport ** -- E. Michael Smith ems@apple.COM 'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.' - Goethe I am not responsible nor is anyone else. Everything is disclaimed.