Condicionantes da escolha da bicicleta como modal de transporte nos deslocamentos em áreas urbanas: desafios e possibilidades

Abstract

This work presents the constraints of the choice of bicycle as a mode of transport for urban travel. At the same time, it presents actions developed in cities in Europe, the USA and Latin America, especially Brazil, capable of stimulating the use of two light wheels. The rulers of third world countries have allocated many resources for the automobile, under the aegis of being necessary to meet the flow of urban roads and avoid traffic jams. With this practice, they leave in the lower plane the active modes, which include pedestrians, bicycles, skateboards, skates and other modes of displacement by human propulsion. Some cases they claim topographical difficulties, climate, and distance from the workplaces of the populations to opt for these modes of transport. This document analyzes the barriers and conditions to bicycle use, as well as relating these factors to modal choice and dependence on the absence of cycling infrastructure. After some analyses from the point of view of the prejudices of rulers, it presents some possibilities of overcoming the barriers: artificial, natural, social, political and urban. Finally, it weaves the “weapons” available to cyclists, especially bicycles (critical mass), as a way to claim more spaces and better conditions when moving their preferred mode of transport: the bicycle.