The UAB presents an integrated plan to promote the use of bicycles on campus

TVT: La UAB presenta un pla integral per a fomentar l’ús de la bicicleta

"We want there to be a bicycle spirit and culture at the UAB", Manel Sabés, Vice Rector for Institutional Relations and Environment, said at the presentation. The “BiciUAB” plan is part of similar initiatives recently put forward in France and Belgium with the aim of encouraging the population to use this vehicle.

22/10/2014

Currently only 1.1% of the campus members use bicycles as a means of transport.

Vídeo: News on Canal Terrassa TV

The UAB presented its BiciUAB plan, an integrated project contemplating all actions needed to foster the use of bicycles as a common means of transport around the Bellaterra Campus, a community of some 50,000 people who move around the campus some 220,000 time a day.

"We want there to be a bicycle spirit and culture at the UAB", Manel Sabés, Vice Rector for Institutional Relations and Environment, said at the presentation. He also added that "most importantly, we need to raise awareness among the community of the benefits of using the bicycle, so that can help more people to use it".

The presentation of the plan took place during the UAB Sustainable and Safe Mobility Week, with a series of activities being offered on campus throughout the week. Coinciding with the presentation, a new stretch of bicycle lane was opened that connects the campus to the town of Bellaterra through the Travessera dels Turons.

An integrated bicycle plan: BiciUAB
Promoting the use of bicycles is one of the proposals included in the 2008-2014 UAB Mobility Plan, which aims to achieve a more efficient, sustainable, safe and integrated mobility model. The plan also stresses the need to encourage collective transport, travelling by bicycle or on foot, and a more rational use of private vehicles.

The BiciUAB plan includes all the proposals made to increase the use of bicycles, a silent vehicle which does not contribute to the depletion of fossil fuels, and which is the fastest means of transport for distances of up to 5 kilometres, according to studies conducted. Currently only 1.1% of the community uses the bicycle as a means of transport around campus.

Bicycle Lanes
The BiciUAB plan proposes uses bike lanes to connect the surrounding towns of Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Cugat, Badia, Sant Quirze, Bellaterra and Sabadell with the campus. The lanes have already been traced out and talks are taking place with the corresponding city councils on the construction of the bike lanes. A total of four kilometres of bike lanes will be constructed.
There are currently around three kilometres of bike lanes within the campus. The plan proposes expanding this to a total of five kilometres.

Bike Stations
At the moment, the UAB includes standard bike stations at almost all of its buildings (in the shape of an inverted "U"). The plan foresees the creation of enclosed bike stations in specific areas of the campus, with a capacity for some 15 to 20 bicycles. The first of these stations was opened today near the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, and users will be able to store their bikes there for free for a limited time.

Services
A new "Espai BiciUAB" space will be created in a centric part of the campus, with a repair shop and bikes for rent. The space will also offer information and organise bike trips and DIY bike repair workshops. Changing rooms with showers will also be available in some of the campus centres.

A public bike service will also be put into practice, with stations at the campus, the ALBA research park and in the towns. The UAB internal bus service will add bike racks to its buses, making it easier for users to combine means of transport and avoid some of the steeper roads on campus. The plan also foresees the installation of signs and signals for all bike lanes, stations and services available on campus.