For Glock Clarinha 
cyclists protest in Porto Alegre: "Respect the rider. More love, less motor"
Ips
PORTO ALEGRE, Apr (IPS) -
The criminal act of a motorist who ran over a dozen cyclists in the southern Brazilian city Porto Alegre became little more than a month later, a banner of struggle for the humanization of cities.
February 25, a car crashed into a group of cyclists of Critical Mass movement in the streets of this city, and the images were seen around the world, generated several protests and a wave of solidarity worldwide.
But worse for cyclists is the unfulfilled promise of implementing the Integrated Plan of Bikeways, written in 2009 and to promote a means of inexpensive, clean and healthy.
Now, activists are preparing to argue their case at a public hearing on 7 this month.
The government of this city - which was ahead of environmental policies since the 1970's and is one of 12 venues for the World Cup in 2014-could incorporate successful experiences in the Netherlands and Denmark, which created a system public bicycles and people accepted it.
Official figures indicate that Brazil, the largest country in South America, has 4,000 miles of bike lanes. Rio de Janeiro
with nearly 6.3 million inhabitants, has 160 kilometers, while Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul, with nearly 1.5 million people, has only eight miles of roads to travel for recreational purposes, although has the potential to reach 410 kilometers on routes that allow use bicycles as transportation.
even smaller nearby towns and have better conditions. Campo Bom, located 58 kilometers from the capital, "Gaucho", has 30 miles of bikeways and 28,000 bicycles for a population of 65,000. In Sapiranga, 52 kilometers, industries encourage bicycle use and install special parking.
"In any city you can draw roads and highways," he told Tierramérica architect Ricardo Correa, founder of TC Urbes Urban Mobility in e Projetos, a consultancy specializing in democratizing movement of all modes of transport.
Corrêa is about to begin a pilot of 30 kilometers of bicycle paths in the district of Santo Amaro, in the southern city of São Paulo, an area of \u200b\u200b450,000 inhabitants and a floating population of 700,000. If the result is positive, may be extended.
"People talk about the bikeways and bicycle European public, but forget that incentives are not there began a day for another, "said Correa.
The network of roads for cyclists in Berlin is the legacy of World Cup 2006, but before there was already a road plan, he said.
" In no other country is so built bike culture as in Holland, "says Shirley Agudo American photojournalist in his book" Bicycle Mania Holland.
In that country there are 29,000 kilometers of roads and special roads. In a population of 16.5 million more than a bicycle per person. Only there are 550,000 bicycles in Amsterdam compared to 250,000 cars.
rulers of other cities try to replicate this successful reality dispar.
English teacher Amélie Dumoulin, 32, lives in Saint-Ouen, a distant commune five minute bike ride from Paris, and is part of the association Vélorution Île de France, which promotes non-motorized transport in the region to which belongs the French capital.
For her, cycling autonomy means of transport, although there is no continuity in the bike paths of the capital and the suburbs, told Tierramérica.
According to data gathered by the group, if made bike 30 percent of car trips for journeys of less than six kilometers inside the European Union, the bloc of 27 countries reduced by four percent their emissions of greenhouse gases generated by motor transport.
But less than three percent of human movement are cycling in France. "The biggest challenge is changing people's minds. The campaigns do not speak more than security, scaring riders," said Frenchman Pierre Fabre, 50, which promoted solidarity with the Brazilians hit.
These messages also came from Quito, capital of Ecuador. With about two million, its first special lanes date from 2007 and now number 49 kilometers. Bicycles, previously used only for tourism, now really move people.
"Quito is a straight line, it is easy to build bike paths," said Mario Muñoz Carrillo, president of the foundation Biciacción. Is more complex than connecting with the south of the territory and the Historic Center area defined as equity.
"The city has other priorities, such as the metro (subway) or the airport," he told Tierramérica. "It's not what happened in Colombia, where the mayors were convinced and ordered the laying of bike paths."
The former mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Peñalosa (1998-2000) introduced the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system, inspired by the developed in the Brazilian city of Curitiba, joined the local cycling routine, began the work on a network of 350 miles of special lanes and reduced car parking areas.
Compared to the Colombian capital, Porto Alegre leaves much to be desired. His master plan was created in 2009, is discussed from the 70's. The debate grew in 1996 after negotiations between the mayor and the Inter-American Development Bank to build the Edge III, an avenue that cuts through the city to drain the main street traffic.
By then, environmentalists and cyclists presented a petition to include in the project construction special lanes for bicycles.
The mayor of Porto Alegre, José Fortunatti, citing lack of funds and other priorities to implement the Plan. But former city clerk of the Environment, Councillor Bob Moesch, contends that in 2010 spent less than half the annual amount budgeted for the category of sustainable transportation. And this year an even lower cost.
Prejudices are visible. "We despise the train and waterways, and this generated a monumental amount of accidents and deaths on the roads, congestion and greenhouse gas emissions," criticized the councilman Carlos Todeschini, vice president of the committee which monitors investments for the Cup World. He believes that this championship will be an opportunity to advance in the laying of bicycle lanes.
On 7 this month, the municipal legislative body will discuss this issue at a public hearing.
Meanwhile, Ricardo José Neis driver is arrested and accused of 17 assassination attempts. One of the cyclists who were saved from being overwhelmed is Renato Soprana Pecoits, dealer of 49 years who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 27. Today is pedaling assisted by a prosthesis.
For him, cycling is an opportunity to interact with others and with nature at a time when people live so far apart, "Trapped in their cars."
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