3.1 Strengthen non-motorised means of transport

3.11. Integrate pedestrian and cycling networks with green areas
Both if the pedestrian and cycling routes are used for obligatory journeys in the city or for leisure the fact that they can be separated off from road traffic in a special bike or walking lane is always a positive design criteria and the urban planner should try to achieve it. As this is basically a design indicator it is complicated to legislate on it, or even to set an example in the guidelines, therefore the most suitable option would be to include it in a catalogue of recommendations.

3.12. Increase the space available for pedestrians
Over many years the space set aside traditionally for pedestrians has gradually been reduced and given over to motorised means of transport. It seems this tendency is being inverted in such a way that now many urban centres, above all the historic ones, are being turned into pedestrian zones with the consequent increase in the space available to people on foot. However, this situation is not being formalised in any Community urban planning legislation —there are a few indirect mentions— despite it being relatively straightforward to establish standards for square metres dedicated to pedestrians in relation to the number of inhabitants, the constructed area or the square metres of road for motorised transport.

3.13. Build pedestrian and cycling neighbourhood networks
It is evident that these networks must be built if an effort is to be made to create a neighbourhood for the residents. These networks are also a key part of the city's organization.

3.14. Make bicycle-parking spaces available
There is already a consolidated standard in Spanish urban planning legislation which sets out a minimum number of parking places for motor cars. This is a perversion in terms of promoting the use of collective transport. However, there is no legislation for bicycle parking, which, in contrast, makes a positive contribution to improving the sustainability of journeys.

3.15. Integrate bicycles with public transport
This indicator should be associated with the list of conditions necessary for the granting of licenses for collective transport and it should be a factor to be considered by the managers of these means of transport. However, it would also be possible to legislate, making it obligatory for the transport operators (or the government bodies themselves) to reserve space in the system which allowed bicycles to be transported in buses, trams and trains.

Discussion