[REPORT]
eSUM midterm workshop
The preliminary results of the European Safer Urban Motorcycling Project were presented during a conference in Brussels
The aim of eSUM is to demonstrate that a constant reduction in Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) accidents in cities is feasible by addressing PTW safety through an integrated approach.
During the eSUM midterm workshop, moderated by Antonio Avenoso, Director of ETSC, the European Transport Safety Council, Felix Arnal of the Barcelona municipality presented the project and described its main goals, which seek to improve the diagnosis of the challenges that PTWs face in cities, while identifying and applying good practices in urban motorcycling action plans. Furthermore, eSUM will demonstrate advances in the state-of-the-art safety interventions and promote the rapid adoption of good safety practices, through preferential treatment in the implementation of urban traffic management policies and strategies.
The final resource pack delivered by eSUM will help local authorities across EU member states to construct action plans addressing road safety issues specifically related to PTWs in their area. A manual will describe a process leading to effective integrated transport plans with PTWs as at their centre supported by the Good Practice Guide and the demonstration cases. eSUM will establish a common standard for cities, with the benefits identified in the model resulted from the project. A downloadable version will be produced to further facilitate the dissemination of eSUM’s work at all levels – but especially targeting citizens and decision-makers.
The draft of the resource pack will be presented and discussed with the partner cities during a seminar, which will be organised in May when European smaller and bigger cities will be invited to participate and jointly work towards improving PTW urban safety. Marco Surace, from Rome's Mobility Agency (ATAC), explained how eSUM will lead to a diagnosis of the specificities of motorcycling in cities aimed at better determining which factors affect urban PTW safety.
Motorcycle manufacturers such as BMW Motorrad and Piaggio are also partners of eSUM. Their role is to demonstrate vehicles with advanced safety features through prototypes and innovative PTW designs.
The findings from MAIDS, and from other EU projects and complementary surveys, namely SUNflower+6, APROSYS and SIM, will be pooled as eSUM's knowledge base.
Andy Mayo, from Transport for London, presented the Good Practice Guide for Improving Urban PTW Safety. Identifying existing good practice in urban PTW accident reduction, this web-based tool for road safety practitioners will provide guidance on good practice projects from across the world in the 6 key areas such as rider training and awareness campaigns, dedicated highway features improving PTW safety, effectiveness of targeted enforcement, specific remedial measures at ‘black spots’, improved PTW design, potential for ‘soft’ street furniture to reduce PTW injuries.
As final beneficiaries of the project's results and responsible for the citizens' welbeing cities play an important part in the eSUM project. Paris, Rome, London and Barcelona, are performing trials and measuring their benefits for PTW safety. These tests include demonstrations of infrastructure dedicated to PTWs, advanced stop lines, access to bus lanes and road markings aiming at encouraging a better use of the road space.
Christope Nicodème from the European Road Federation described the advantages of adapting the infrastructure to the specific needs of PTW users.
Koen Ricour, from Tispol, the European Traffic Police Network, reported on the role that enforcement can have on PTW safety. Camera systems detecting violations and dangerous PTW manoeuvers, large scale implementation of safety cameras and PTW specific route casualties treatments; automated PTW counting and their legal implications.
The important role of the cities in the road safety domain has been underlined once more by the presentation made by Oliver Jung, POLIS – the network of European cities focussing on innovation in local transport. Juan Muguiro of the Spanish Department of Transport, shared the experience, lessons learned and recommendations from the ongoing implementation of the Spanish plan for PTW road safety.
The effects of awareness campaigns, driver and rider training are also measured by eSUM. Each participating city has launched its own PTW safety strategy, the results of which will be included in eSUM's final report. These will be presented during a dedicated conference in early December at the conclusion of the project.
Download the presentations on the eSUM website
[INDEX]
RACC BARCELONA SURVEY ON PTW SAFETY
PIAGGIO AND ENEL TO DEVELOP ELECTRIC MOBILITY
Economic benefits of PTW transport in cities
Economist and Sorbonne Professor Pierre Kopp recently published a study* examining the consequences of the increase in PTW traffic (measured in vehicle/km) in Paris.
The PTW share in Paris traffic increased by 36% between 2000 and 2007, with PTWs now accounting for a share twice as large as that of buses. An original survey has shown that 21 million additional passenger kilometres were made by PTWs in 2007 compared to 2000. 53% of this increase comes from people shifting to PTWs from public transport and 26.5% from private cars. The remaining 20% is attributable to the increased use of PTWs by those already using such vehicles in 2000.
Through a cost-benefit analysis, weighing time spent in traffic, impacts on road safety, environment and taxes, the study concluded that the shift towards PTWs over the period 2000-2007 generated a considerable gain for the community, despite the absence of accompanying public policies.
* “La contribution des deux roues motorisésà la mobilité dans une grande métropole : le cas
de Paris ” Revue Transport, July-August 2009, n° 456.