Chisinau city has potential for developing urban cycling. The development of alternative transport based on bicycles would reduce urban traffic by 30%, said civic activist in municipal matters Victor Chironda, who made a study on the optimization of the transport system in Chisinau, IPN reports.
According to Victor Chironda, in Chisinau most of the trips are average distance ones. This enables to use bicycles and other alternative units of transport, such as scooters, skateboards, segways and motor bicycles. If the infrastructure is well developed, not only the young people could maneuver bicycles or the other units of transport. Cars sharing services could be developed for persons who go shopping.
Victor Chironda noted that the constant extension of the housing sector leads to a continuous rise in the number of inhabitants of the city and this puts pressure on the municipal transport system. During the last ten years, not much money was allocated for developing the infrastructure so as to ensure free movement by bikes through the city and the authorities show no interest in improving cycling infrastructure and promoting bicycles.
There is also the legislative problem. The Road Code and the Road Traffic Regulations do not recognize bicycles as units of transport and do not promote urban cycling. Speaking about the experience of the European states, the activist said most of these have bystreets intended for cycling or lanes recommended for cycling. Victor Chironda recommends amending and adjusting the regulations to the European norms and practices of building and developing cycling infrastructure.
