10 December 2018
A workshop to discuss the development of cycling infrastructure in Ecuador
On December 18th and 19th, CODATU will host a workshop in Quito (Ecuador) in the framework of a cooperation between the French Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition (MTES), AFD and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP). CODATU will be accompanied by Sylvie Banoun, Interministerial Coordinator for the development of walking and cycling, and Thomas Jouannot, expert of “active modes” at CEREMA.
The MTOP is currently drafting its “Technical Manual for Bike Infrastructure” which will be a guide of recommendations for the planning, design and construction of bicycle paths at the national level, in both urban and rural areas. The medium-term objective is to include these technical recommendations in existing regulations, in order to promote cycling (there were 72.99km of bike lanes in 2015 in Quito), to reduce the place of cars (annual car park up 11% in Quito), to work on multimodality and intermodality. There are many different tools: regulation of car parking, reduction of speed, reduction of traffic lanes by cars etc.
A bike share service (BiciQuito) is in operation since 2012 in Quito (2000 bikes, 30 stations), and many organisations are mobilizing to make cycling more popular, for example the CER organisation, program for the learning of cycling for and by residents of Quito (Hadas Madrinas) that provides bike rides by night in Quito or other programs that promote cycling (Todas en Bici, Rodadas in Altura, Guayaquil in Bici, BiciCuenca, Muevete en Bici etc. .), which show a growing interest from the population and an active collaboration between national, regional and local institutions and NGOs.
A first workshop was organised in June 2016 by the MTOP as part of the “National Pact for Road Safety” initiative, a government program that aims to reduce the mortality rate through measures for the improvement of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. This first workshop focused on cycling infrastructures typologies that may be the most relevant in Ecuador (dedicated lanes, shared lanes with buses/pedestrians/cars, calmed traffic areas …).
The aim of this 2nd workshop is to complete the existing Cycling Manual by introducing new topics: the maintenance of infrastructure, signage, integration with other modes of transport, innovative practices that have proven their efficiency in other countries, but also cooperation and awareness-raising.
