Chapter 19: Biking and Walking: The Position of Non-Motorized Transport Modes in Transport Systems

Biking and walking are rather neglected transport modes within transportation research. In terms of their contribution to the total number of kilometers traveled, their share is indeed small in most countries. However, their share in the total number of trips made is substantial almost everywhere. In less developed countries walking and biking are the natural transport modes for low-income households, but also in many countries with higher incomes they are considered important transport modes. Walking and biking remain attractive transport modes for a number of reasons:

Among the negative aspects of non-motorized (or slow^†) transport modes are:

Walking has been the dominant transport mode for many centuries in all countries. Before industrialization took place there were some alternatives such as riding animals, horse-drawn carriages, and water transport, but walking must have been by far the most substantial transport mode. The Roman roads of 2000 years ago were predominantly used by pedestrians. Conflicts between pedestrians and wheeled traffic did occur, however, especially in urban areas. For example, Hass-Klau (1990) mentions that Julius Caesar banned chariots from the streets in Rome between sunrise and sunset to offer space to the pedestrian. Since the 19th century the development of railway and highway systems has led to dramatic changes in travel behavior towards motorized transport modes. In addition, the bicycle became available to the pedestrian as a possible substitute.