Bicycle - an integral transport tool in the agglomeration

In the Krakow Functional Area (KrOF), bicycle routes include 93 kilometers (roads for bicycles) and 42 kilometers (roads for bicycles and pedestrians), with the best developed network of cycling routes in Kraków alone with nearly 230 km of cycle paths or mixed sections (read more). The Krakow routes have a mainly communicative function, the ones around the city have been largely created with a view to using tourism and recreation. The cycling infrastructure consists not only of bicycle paths. The city center lacks space for their construction, but solutions in the field of traffic engineering are used. Krakow currently has probably the most solutions in Poland based on a counter-attack. These are sections where on one-way streets cycling is allowed “against the tide”, but only where there is a speed limit of 30 km / h. There is no shortage of bicycle lanes and sluices in the city to help cyclists safely cross intersections. Thanks to the presence of such solutions, less skilled cyclists are more likely to use a bicycle in the city. But the infrastructure itself is not enough to drive. Therefore, Krakow is successively investing in bicycle stands, monitored bicycle parking lots and bicycle shelters. Without the ability to safely attach a bike, it is difficult to talk about effective everyday use of it. At the end of 2018, there were more than 6000 such urban stands. The Kraków Bicycle Officer led to the launch (in 2016) of automatic bike counters. Thanks to this, it is possible to monitor bicycle trends in the city – also how many cyclists choose a bicycle in winter (around 25-30%).

Bike network concepts

Taking into account the terrain conditions of the KrOF located within the Krakow Upland, the Sandomierz Basin, the Wieliczka Podgórze and the Vistula river valley cut through, appropriate assumptions were made for the concept of the bicycle route system. Routes in municipalities will be implemented in such a way as to enable residents to reach transport hubs, where they will use public transport services:

• within a radius of 2.5 km from transport hubs, the municipalities will strive for the development of bicycle infrastructure facilitating access,
• in the area of ​​public facilities (offices, schools , libraries) the municipalities will take care of the possibility of leaving the bike, in the case of road investments, municipalities will strive to build infrastructure supporting bicycle traffic,
• steps will be taken to extend the Krakow cycle network beyond the city,
• efforts will be made to create a main route around Krakow connecting transport hubs in the KrOF communes cycling (EuroVelo 4 and 11, VeloRudawa) have been recognized as the main enabling journey inside the KrOF,
• in order to develop the bicycle infrastructure, areas with favorable terrain (eg river valleys) will be used.

City Bicycle system

There is also a city bike “Wavelo” in the city. The system operator provides the latest generation of fourth generation bicycles, which are safe, comfortable and easy to locate (have an on-board computer and GPS). There are at least 150 stations and 1500 bicycles at the residents’ disposal. The system also has additional sponsorship stations. In addition, it is possible to create temporary bicycle stations based on existing bicycle racks. This solution was used during the Book Fair – at their headquarters and in the area of ​​the largest cemeteries during All Saints’ celebrations. The big advantage of the system is that it also works during the winter. It is also important to give away the bike also outside the station, which significantly increases the flexibility of the entire system. Krakow was the first city in which a year-round fourth-generation city bike system was launched. What’s more, as the first city in Poland, he used the concession to choose the contractor and thus virtually does not bear the costs of the system

Initiatives that promote the bike

Krakow actively participates in various initiatives aimed at popularizing the bicycle as a means of transport. The “Bicycle for Work” campaign is addressed to adults, economically active people, whose aim is to encourage motorists to choose a bicycle on the way to work. In turn, for the youngest, the “Bicycle May” action in which children can compete and collect prizes. They can come to school: by bike, scooter, rollerblading or skateboarding. First and foremost, activity counts. As part of the campaign “Bicycle for work, i.e. home, bicycle, work … and so on and on”, companies and institutions submitted for the program reward those employees who choose a bicycle (their own or from the rental) on a daily trip to work. Thanks to this action, there are fewer cars on the streets in the city, and thus less exhaust gases into the atmosphere. Current estimates indicate that up to 5 percent. all trips around Krakow are carried out using a bicycle.

Pre-school children, students and teachers of Krakow schools are actively involved in the “Bicycle May” campaign, one of the largest in Poland. Its main task is to popularize the bicycle as a means of transport on the way to school. 7641 participants took part in this program promoting a healthy lifestyle and sustainable mobility among the youngest. By playing with elements of competition, the number of cars transporting children to school decreases, and the youngest ones develop good and healthy habits.