Sustainable mobility - bicycle traffic as a form of everyday mobility in the City of Zagreb

Prometnu paradigmu grada Zagreba obilježava podređenost svim drugih oblika mobilnosti motoriziranom prometu što negativno utječe na kvalitetu života: zagađuje zrak, usporava kretanje, troši slobodno vrijeme građana te doprinosi razvoju bolesti. Niz europskih zemalja stoga razvija svoje gradove u smjeru održivih sredina u kojima je promet temeljen na javnom prijevozu, pješačenju i bicikliranju. Cilj ovoga rada je primijeniti standarde europskih gradova pri analizi biciklističkog sustava Zagreba, utvrditi glavne nedostatke i pružiti moguća rješenja za biciklističku infrastrukturu. Svrha toga je pružiti temelj za poboljšanje biciklističke infrastrukture i time kvalitete života građana. U radu se daju odgovori na glavna istraživačka pitanja: 1) Odgovara li postojeća biciklistička infrastruktura europskim standardima i potrebama građana Zagreba; 2) Primjenjuju li se postojeći zakoni i pravilnici koji se odnose na biciklistički promet pravilno pri implementaciji infrastrukture; i 3) Jesu li građani i stručnjaci dovoljno uključeni u odlučivanje o biciklističkom prometu. Za utvrđivanje odgovora korištena su metode dubinskih intervjua sa stručnjacima, terenska analiza infrastrukture, analiza dostupnih podataka i zakonskih regulativa, te sekundarna analiza sadržaja dostupnog na internetu kao i stručne literature. Utvrđeno je da u Zagrebu biciklistička infrastruktura ne zadovoljava osnovne standarde koji se odnose na koheziju, direktnost, sigurnost, udobnost i atraktivnost. Biciklistički sustav je fragmentiran i nepovezan , te ne postoji dovoljna pokrivenost javnim prijevozom i parkinzima. Također se bilježe propusti u provedbi postojeće regulative pri izgradnji infrastrukture, a građani i stručnjaci nisu u dovoljnoj mjeri uključeni u odlučivanje o biciklističkom prometu. Zagrebu je stoga potrebna promjena prometne paradigme koju bi bilo najbolje isplanirati temeljem europskih primjera metodom izrade SUMP-a uz uključenost svih potrebnih sudionika. Gradu je potrebna kvalitetna integracija biciklističkog prometa s javnim prijevozom što se prvenstveno mora postići simirivanjem i dijeljenjem prometa. Glavni problem biciklističkog sustava, nepovezanost i fragmentiranost trebalo bi riješiti prenamjenom kolnika za biciklističku infrastrukturu te stvaranjem biciklističkih magistrala npr. duž rute »Samoborčeka« i gradskih potoka iz kojih bi se granale manje prometnice, povezane s javnim prijevozom i ostalim sadržajima u gradu.The traffic paradigm of the city of Zagreb is characterized by the subordination of all other forms of mobility to motorized traffic, which negatively affects the quality of life: it pollutes the air, slows down movement, consumes citizens' free time, and contributes to the development of diseases. A number of European countries are therefore developing their cities in the direction of sustainable environments where traffic is based on public transport, walking and cycling. The aim of this paper is to apply the standards of European cities in the analysis of Zagreb's bicycle system, to determine the main shortcomings and to provide possible solutions for bicycle infrastructure. The purpose of this is to provide a basis for improving the cycling infrastructure and thus the quality of life of citizens. The paper provides answers to the main research questions: 1) Does the existing cycling infrastructure meet European standards and the needs of the citizens of Zagreb; 2) Are the existing laws and regulations related to bicycle traffic properly applied when implementing the infrastructure; and 3) Are citizens and experts sufficiently involved in deciding on bicycle traffic. To determine the answers, the methods of in-depth interviews with experts, field analysis of infrastructure, analysis of available data and legal regulations, and secondary analysis of content available on the Internet as well as professional literature were used. It was established that the bicycle infrastructure in Zagreb does not meet the basic standards related to cohesion, directness, safety, comfort and attractiveness. The cycling system is fragmented and disconnected, and there is insufficient coverage by the public bicycle system and parking locations. There are also failures in the implementation of existing regulations when building infrastructure, and citizens and experts are not sufficiently involved in decision-making about bicycle traffic. Zagreb therefore needs a change in the traffic paradigm, which would be best planned based on European examples using the SUMP method with the involvement of all necessary participants. The city needs high-quality integration of bicycle traffic with public transport, which must primarily be achieved by calming traffic and implementing roads for shared traffic. The main problem of the bicycle system, disconnection and fragmentation, should be solved by repurposing roadways for bicycle infrastructure and by creating bicycle highways, for example, along the "Samoborček" route and city streams, from which smaller roads would branch off, connected to public transportation and other facilities in the city