From: ems@michael.apple.com (E. Michael Smith)
Subject: CUBA goes biking ... (What oil shortage?)
Organization: Apple Computer Inc.
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 05:07:09 GMT

A Friend sent me this ... makes interesting reading in the 
context of oil dependence; and it puts an interesting
perspective on the folks who advocate bikes as the 
answer to everything ...

Hint: what do you do when your Big Brother takes his oil and money away??


Asunto: Internacional eventCycles: An Option for the XXI Century.
        --------------------------------------------------------

On April 13-16,1993, at the Convention Palace, Havana, Cuba, will be held the
International Event "Cycles: An Option for the XXI Century".

The subjects to discuss will be, among others:

-The bycicle and its relation to health
-Cycle turism and ecology.
-Movility alternative for youth
-Education and transit safety.
-Streets and roads system.
-Bicycles production, maintenance and repair.

Conferences and rounds tables will take place, and papers and posters may be
presented.

Stands will be available for scientifics and commercial exhibits.

Will be sending later more detailed information about it.

For furthermore information, contact us by E. mails:

                     transel@tinored.cu
                     iitransp@ceniad.cu

Dr. Humberto Valdes
Senior Scientits
Head Laboratory on Economy and Organization of
Passengers Transportation
Transportation Research Institute.
Aptdo, Postal 17029 Habana 17
C.P. 11700 CUBA
** End of text from cdp:transport **

/** transport: 75.0 **/
** Topic: Cuban Bicycle Report **
** Written  5:36 pm  Sep 25, 1992 by larris in cdp:transport **
From: Lelani Arris <larris>
Subject: Cuban Bicycle Report

/* Written  8:54 pm  Sep 23, 1992 by transel@tinored.cu in cdp:aus.bicycle */
/* ---------- "bicicletas" ---------- */
From: transel@tinored.cu (Dpto. Inf. Cientifica-IIT )
Subject: bicicletas

                               ABSTRACT
                               --------

NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN CUBA. A case study on sustainable
                     transport, environment and development.

Author: Humberto Valdes Rios, PhD

Background:     Only in a few towns (Cardenas, Guines,
                Sagua la Grande and Camaguey), tradition
                about the use of bicycles as mean of
                transport. For example, in Cardenas were 280
                bicycles per 1000 inhabitants.

                In Cuba, bicycles were used like toys and
                for recreation. Only in some case, they were
                used to help the labor of carriers in
                drugstores, groceries, and so on. It was
                before 1960-1961. Today, like was before
                the mentioned date, the postmen with
                cablegrams, use bikes for deliveries.

                In 1964 was inaugurated the first bicycle's
                factory in Cuba-named "Heriberto Mederos"-,
                with capacity to produce 20,0 thousands bikes
                yearly, but in the period from 1964 to 1982,
                only 43,4 thousands bicycles were made,
                because the production was unstable, included
                some years interrupted. The main bycicle's
                components were imported from Czechoslovakia.

                In the period from 1961 to 1990, were sold
                1 914,2 thousands imported bicycles in Cuba,
                but in this period transport of population and
                goods were depended largely upon motorized
                means of transport, with all their disadventages
                (oil consumption, air pollution and noise,
                high investment and operation cost, and so on).
                The rol of bicycles in urban transportation was
                insignificant, and for that reason,
                they were not included in urban transportation
                studies on main cities, and also in urban
                planning.

The Cuban       Since 1989, the political and socio economical
Economy         changes in the Economy of Eastern European
                countries, and more recently in the ex-Soviet
                Union, determined a decrease in import-export
                relations. As a result of the collapse of the
                Eastern Block trading partners, a decrease in
                petrol imports was determined step-by-step,
                and now is around the 50%, and gasoline and
                diesel consumption have been rationed tightly.
                Another adverse factors were: external debt,
                scarce of hard curriencies, increase of interest
                rates, decrease of international prices
                for main exports (sugar, for example),
                difficulties for exportation and importation,
                no loans, and the U.S.A. blockade.

                Because hard curriences are scarce, and they
                are indispensable for buy oil lubricants, spare
                parts, and loans are necesary for buy new
                vehicles, that even maintenance the current
                motorized transport capacities appears very
                difficult.

                The Cuban Government had to find some
                transportation alternatives, less dependent on
                hard currency, petrol consumption, and with
                others adventages.

                The bicycles were rediscovered as a potencial
                means of solving share of the transport
                problems for the majority of the cuban people.
                They were rediscovered like appropiate transport
                tecnology. Now, bicycle transport is a corner
                stone to the new cuban energy reduction strategy,
                and also concerning physical and cultural
                environment of the country, and made possible
                many other measure that would further humanize
                the cities.

                The bicycles are here- in Cuba-to stay.

The Cuban       In 1991, as a result of the new governmental
"Velorution     bicycle's policy, in Cuban ":   were sold
                623,5 thousand assembled bicycles, 20,9
                thousand imported bicycles, and 4,0 thousand
                cuban bicycles. Only in Havana were  sold
                462,4 thousand bicycles.

                The 59% of bicycles assembled in Cuba, were made
                by students in several technologicals centers
                (technological schools), and 3,2 thousand
                students take part in the production process.
                Those bicycles were imported C.K.D. from the
                People's Republic of China. The rest, were
                assembled by workers in several workshops
                afeected by the reduction of imports
                (raw materials and so on).

                At the end of 1991 started the mass production
                of the new cuban bicycles in five factories.
                Each factory will be capable to produce 20,0
                thousand bikes yearly, as well as tricycles
                and other models. Until July 30,1992,
                33,4 thousand bikes were made in the new cuban
                factories. In next few months, production
                capacity will be increased up to 100,0
                thousand bikes in each factory.

                Consecuently was organized the production of
                bicycle's components and tools, as well as
                pneumatic tires and tubes, accesories, spare
odels of cuban bikes will be
                improved, and bicycles with cables, freewhels,
                and so on, will be introduced as soon as
                possible, in the next few year, and then,
                they will be ready for international markets.

                The assembled bicycles are sold to cuban
                workers in 130 cuban pesos, and the same
                bicycles are sold to students in 65 cuban
                pesos. Sales are on credit (without interest
                rates), and the payments period could be up
                to 2 years long. This financing is a key-part
                to the bicycle's program success. The mean
                monthly salary in Cuba is 192 cuban pesos.

                Also 60,0 thousand tricycles will be sold in
                1992 to several enterprises, from which more
                than 4,6 thousand wiil be in Havana.

Some solutions  a. For bicycle traffic safety
and facilities     --------------------------
in Havana in       The Traffic Police installed more than 1100
                   signals concerning : bicycles. There are
                   now more than 60 km, of bike lanes on the
                   main roads. A new- and the first - bike
                   path way was buildind at the east side
                   of the city (from Alamar to Playa El Megano).
                   Bicycles traffic in prohibited only in 4,8 km
                   on the main roads in the city, for the
                   best safety of cyclists.

                b. For cyclist traffic education
                   -----------------------------
                   There is a campaign about traffic
                   education, for cyclists, pedestrians,
                   and automobilists.

                   In 1991 Traffic Police organized 177
                   workshops to workers and students
                   relating bicycle's traffic safety. More
                   than 10 TV programs were dedicated to
                   cyclist traffic safety, and other
                   issues concerning cycling. More than 120
                   radio programs were dedicated to different
                   things concerning cycling. 20 thousand
                   pamphlets were printed, and also was edited
                   an education material: "Course (or lessons)
                   of Traffic for Cyclists".

                   Some roads are closed on saturdays and
                   sundays for bicycle training.

                c. An special solution for the commonication to
                   the east side Bicycles can cross the harbor
                   tunnel aboard flat bed trailers, and
                   "cyclobuses" (buses only for bicycle's
                   tranfers). Also cyclist can cross the
                   tunnel walking, and soon they can do
                   it cycling. Bike boats on separate routes
                   traverse the Havana Bay.

Results of      Differents cuban organizations began to carry
                out studies on the researches:implementation
                of bicycle's policy.

                The Cuban Institute for Research and Promotion
                of Internal Demand made a household research,
                it found that 47% of home in Havana had at
                least one bicycle in november 1991. (In
                december 1990, only 13% of home had 1 bicycle).

                The Transportation Research Institute made a
                research in 9 work centres and 1 school
                centres, and there was 21% of the bicycles
                on parking, (march 1992), they are use to
                working trips every day.

                In interviews done when cyclist cross the
                tunnel under the Havana Bay, was determined
                that 85% of cyclist were men, and 15% were
                females. The average age of cyclist was 28
                years old. The 68% were workers, and the
                27% were students.

Other bicycle's   Since 1991, in the city of Havana:
facilities in

                  pneumatics tires and tubes, and some other
                  bicycle's parts (components).
                - Has founded a network of 44 repairing
                  workshops for bikes, and will increased in
                  next few months.
                - Has set up 14 places for bicycle's parking,
                  in city centers. In enterprises and schools,
                  there are bicycle's parking facilities.
                - In 78 places, equipments had been installed
                  for service air to bicycle's pneumatic tires.
                - In 63 workshops, the cyclists can repair
                  their pneumatic tires.

Benefits of     On traffic accidents
bicycle's       --------------------
policy:         The reduction of motorized transport in 1991,
                decrease traffic accidents by 21%, fatalities
                by 8%, and injuries by 2%. In Havana traffic
                accidents decrease by 34%.

                On the Environment
                ------------------
                The decrease, at least in 30%, in the emission
                of pollulants: created by motorized transport
                before ( carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides,
                hidrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, lampblack and
                others).

                On Human Health
                ---------------
                Reduction of stress created by the use of public
                transport, as well as the improvement of physical
                health, by the practice of cycling. Reduction of
                stress created by traffic congestion.

                On the Economy
                --------------
                Only in Havana, the economic benefits of the
                use of bicycles, can be estimated in at least
                11,5 million US dollars in 1991 by the transfer
                of passengers that used urban buses to bikes.
                Also is a reduction by less use of the rest of
                motorized transport.

                On Development
                --------------
                The creation of sustainasble transportation
                technology, appropiate to economic and social
                development conditions in Cuba, with limited
                resources.

Restrictions    Unfortunately, HELMETS are non-existent, less
to improve the  than 50% of the bicycles have dinamo lighting
nt,
Program:        and too many cyclists have had any familiarity
                with traffic rules of the road .

                There are not enough materials to increase,
                and to improve traffic signals (horizontal
                and vertical), and special semaphores.

                There are not enough resources and materials
                to improve pavement surface, or to build bike
                paths (cycle ways included), now in project.

                There is not enough paper and other resources,
                for propoganda (pamphlet pediodical publications,
                printer matter, and so on), and safety education
                of cyclists.

                There are some restrictions in resources
                to build parking areas for bicycles, in public
                centers as well as residential areas.

                There is not hard currency to buy bibliography
                (technical) abaut bicycling facilities, and
                so on, for interchange knowohow, and experiences
                with other countries (developed and developing).

                Resources to improve the workshops concerning
                repair and maintenance of bicycles are scarce,
                as well as for some services to the cyclists
                (for example: bombs for air services).

                Transport specialist, as well as urban planners,
                have now things to study and to learn about
                the use of bicycles as a mean of transport in
                the community.


** End of text from cdp:transport **

-- 

E. Michael Smith  ems@apple.COM

'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has
 genius, power and magic in it.'  -  Goethe

I am not responsible nor is anyone else.  Everything is disclaimed.