Ulaanbaatar’s two wheeled commitment
Ulaanbaatar could host 143km of cycleway and 99 kickstands in the near future. Looking at the country’s poor transport infrastructure and accident statistics it’s hard to imagine the coldest city on earth has a bicycle friendly potential. However this is exactly what has been proposed by Ulaanbaatar’s Urban Development Office.
D.Khan Uul prepared the project late last year, and it is now searching for support in an upcoming budget analysis. The project has found interest from architects and private investors as well as the Mongolian Bicycle Federation.
For anyone who has experienced Ulaanbaatar trafficr, the concept of cycling is at least fleetingly attractive. As the city continues its outward sprawl, the commute becomes more and more daunting for those on the outskirts. Cycling also offers a tempting solution to some Ulaanbaatar’s extreme pollution issues.
While cycling is potentially attractive to an individual traveller, the city needs a cycling culture to have any influence on pollution and traffic issues. Until bicycle lanes are built in the city, the haphazard traffic alone is too daunting for even the most daring cyclist.
According to transportation Statistics “Ulaanbaatar routinely accounts for over 70 percent of the annual traffic accidents in the country.” It is estimated that per year, there are over 20 deaths per 10,000 cars in the city. This doesn’t even hint at the amount of prangs and minor incidents occurring that could be potentially fatal to a cyclist.
That said, Mongolia’s drivers are also surprisingly flexible. A lax attitude for road rules seems to have gifted them with an ability to compromise in traffic situations, and while occasional flare-ups occur there is an unspoken code between pedestrians and cars that operates smoothly, for the most part.
According to Bicycle Federation head Z. Naran, the benefits of cycling go beyond environmental, offering cultural advantages. He claims Mongolia has a cycling heritage that began over “100 years ago.” Though the proposed cycleways seem an ambitious project he is confident that “people will enjoy it upon its completion.”
When it comes to cycling in Mongolia however, there are obvious additional challenges; minus 40C temperatures and deadly icy streets. In the depths of winter it’s hard enough to stay on your feet let alone two wheels. And an expenditure of 1 billion MNT for a seasonal set of cycleways seems wasteful at best.
However bikes have potential to adapt to the wintry climate. Studded tires allow increased control in icy environments, and wholesalers fit them to almost any tire style. According to one manufacturer, adding studs when riding is directly comparable to spreading sand on ice when walking. “Riding on ice with studded tires is like walking on ice that’s been lightly covered with sand.” the source claims, “It’s pretty safe. You’re not likely to fall unless you do something stupid”
The availability of such tires in Mongolia is limited to international orders, and most current cyclists seen on the streets brave the ice with regular or slightly nobbled tires. If numerous cyclists were to take to the winter roads at once, there would be a need for some standardization in tire styles.
Metallic studs also pose a problem for upkeep on tar roads. For the same reason tire chains are banned on cars, studs on bike tires are prohibited in some areas. In Mongolia the destruction of the asphalt would add pressure to roads already badly affected by climatic extremes.
Beyond that, there have also been studies that suggest minute particles crushed by bike studs have the potential to cause heart and lung problems when inhaled. A 2011 study conducted in Scandinavian countries found that “road dust from studded tires causes biological changes in cells related to inflammation, a process underlying heart and respiratory diseases.”
While Ulaanbaatar hardly needs to add to its respiratory issues, there is no doubt that a cycling culture would still relieve some of the carbon monoxide pollution produced by stagnant traffic during peak periods.
Recreationally, cycling in Mongolia faces less complex issues. Events such as the ‘Mongolian Bike Challenge’ held in July attract tourism and promote the country’s natural heritage, while motivated travellers regularly take to the steppes.
In 2012 Mongolia’s first ever cyclo cross team competed in the championship held in the Czech Republic’s Tabor. At that time, one team member claimed he had never seen the ocean; since then, the team has consistently competed and placed globally.
As Mongolia’s environmental and cultural conscience grows, there draw of a cycling culture becomes more and more appealing. While a proposal for cycleways is just a start, it’s a promising commitment.
D.Khan Uul prepared the project late last year, and it is now searching for support in an upcoming budget analysis. The project has found interest from architects and private investors as well as the Mongolian Bicycle Federation.
For anyone who has experienced Ulaanbaatar trafficr, the concept of cycling is at least fleetingly attractive. As the city continues its outward sprawl, the commute becomes more and more daunting for those on the outskirts. Cycling also offers a tempting solution to some Ulaanbaatar’s extreme pollution issues.
While cycling is potentially attractive to an individual traveller, the city needs a cycling culture to have any influence on pollution and traffic issues. Until bicycle lanes are built in the city, the haphazard traffic alone is too daunting for even the most daring cyclist.
According to transportation Statistics “Ulaanbaatar routinely accounts for over 70 percent of the annual traffic accidents in the country.” It is estimated that per year, there are over 20 deaths per 10,000 cars in the city. This doesn’t even hint at the amount of prangs and minor incidents occurring that could be potentially fatal to a cyclist.
That said, Mongolia’s drivers are also surprisingly flexible. A lax attitude for road rules seems to have gifted them with an ability to compromise in traffic situations, and while occasional flare-ups occur there is an unspoken code between pedestrians and cars that operates smoothly, for the most part.
According to Bicycle Federation head Z. Naran, the benefits of cycling go beyond environmental, offering cultural advantages. He claims Mongolia has a cycling heritage that began over “100 years ago.” Though the proposed cycleways seem an ambitious project he is confident that “people will enjoy it upon its completion.”
When it comes to cycling in Mongolia however, there are obvious additional challenges; minus 40C temperatures and deadly icy streets. In the depths of winter it’s hard enough to stay on your feet let alone two wheels. And an expenditure of 1 billion MNT for a seasonal set of cycleways seems wasteful at best.
However bikes have potential to adapt to the wintry climate. Studded tires allow increased control in icy environments, and wholesalers fit them to almost any tire style. According to one manufacturer, adding studs when riding is directly comparable to spreading sand on ice when walking. “Riding on ice with studded tires is like walking on ice that’s been lightly covered with sand.” the source claims, “It’s pretty safe. You’re not likely to fall unless you do something stupid”
The availability of such tires in Mongolia is limited to international orders, and most current cyclists seen on the streets brave the ice with regular or slightly nobbled tires. If numerous cyclists were to take to the winter roads at once, there would be a need for some standardization in tire styles.
Metallic studs also pose a problem for upkeep on tar roads. For the same reason tire chains are banned on cars, studs on bike tires are prohibited in some areas. In Mongolia the destruction of the asphalt would add pressure to roads already badly affected by climatic extremes.
Beyond that, there have also been studies that suggest minute particles crushed by bike studs have the potential to cause heart and lung problems when inhaled. A 2011 study conducted in Scandinavian countries found that “road dust from studded tires causes biological changes in cells related to inflammation, a process underlying heart and respiratory diseases.”
While Ulaanbaatar hardly needs to add to its respiratory issues, there is no doubt that a cycling culture would still relieve some of the carbon monoxide pollution produced by stagnant traffic during peak periods.
Recreationally, cycling in Mongolia faces less complex issues. Events such as the ‘Mongolian Bike Challenge’ held in July attract tourism and promote the country’s natural heritage, while motivated travellers regularly take to the steppes.
In 2012 Mongolia’s first ever cyclo cross team competed in the championship held in the Czech Republic’s Tabor. At that time, one team member claimed he had never seen the ocean; since then, the team has consistently competed and placed globally.
As Mongolia’s environmental and cultural conscience grows, there draw of a cycling culture becomes more and more appealing. While a proposal for cycleways is just a start, it’s a promising commitment.
Comments
Post a Comment