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Meanwhile in Tatarstan, the City of Kazan is one of only two cities in Russia that is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport [3]. Perhaps as a result of this, Kazan is becoming increasingly more active in promoting cycling. However, the city lacks practical bicycle infrastructure, which is necessary to increase the number of bicycle users in the city. [4]
Following the Ministry of Transport's new standards for bicycle paths, Kazan has implemented the "Amazing Kazan", a thermoplastic bicycle path that follows a route of cultural landmarks. While this a start for bringing attention to cycling, the city lacks a cohesive network connecting residents from their homes to where they want to go. In 2013, bicycle users contributed to 0.04% (8000 trips per day) of the total transportation, with a projected growth to 1% (200,000 trips per day) by 2020. As in Moscow, Velonette and other bicycle cultural organisations have a presence in Kazan.
The President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, supports the global movement of the Car-Free Day, which promotes taking active and public transport to work. Minnikhanov, who occasionally cycles to work is aware of the health benefits of cycling, and believes that Kazan needs to improve its bicycle infrastructure [5].
What Almetyevsk has planned presents a first for Russian cities, a fully functioning network of reliable, best-practice bicycle infrastructure that serves the whole city. The network will follow best-practice design guidelines that have been developed in Denmark over 100 years of experience. The cornerstone of this network will be raised, dedicated bicycle tracks that treat bicycles as what they really are: a legitimate mode of transportation. Unlike other projects in Russian cities, Almetyevsk is not after PR headlines, but rather aims to provide commuters with a healthy, attractive and efficient alternative to the car.
Why cycling? Change can be controversial. We know this. But we also know that for a reasonable public debate to take place, all the facts must be laid out. In the following section we describe and explain the benefits of cycling from convenience, environmental, economic and public health perspectives. These topics are a useful launch pad for discussing cycling.
Convenience and Efficiency.
- Bicycles have 10 times fewer parking costs and space requirements than cars.
- When factoring in traffic congestion and parking, driving is not always the fastest way to get around. When accommodated properly, cycling offers the fastest way from point A to point B. And that is exactly why cycling is so popular in cities like Copenhagen, Buenos Aires, Seville and Umea.
- A 20 minute bike ride will get nearly all residents of Almetyevsk into the central business district. Meanwhile, a 35 minute ride is all it takes to cross the city from west to east.
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