Bike Infrastructure vs. Car Infrastructure: A Cost Savings Analysis in Metro Vancouver

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Application ID: 001223
This project is available.
Project Description
Project Title
Bike Infrastructure vs. Car Infrastructure: A Cost Savings Analysis in Metro Vancouver
What is the central research question you want answered?
What are the objectives of your project?
What are the tangible cost savings to the government (public) when bike infrastructure (striped bike lanes, bike racks) is implemented instead of car infrastructure (roads, parking spaces) to serve the same number of people in the context of Metro Vancouver?
The objective is to determine cost difference between bike and car investments in the local region. This will be a tool to use in advocating for smart transportation choices on a financial level.

Project Type
Computer Related     
Creative     
Formal Research     
 Organizational Development     
Survey     
Other  
Size of Project (Number of pages, minutes, cm, etc.)
20 pages
Project Description (Use this space to further elaborate on the project)
The student will be in contact with local government engineering departments directly or via their documentation to establish the cost of car infrastructure per person, including building and maintenance of roads, highways, bridges, publicly funded parking. They will collect the same data on the cost of bicycle infrastructure per person, including the building and maintenance of road, highway and bridge space for bike lanes, and bike parking racks. These costs will be then compared and summarized.
How do you plan to use the results of this project?
The results of this project will be used to advocate with municipal and regional government bodies for financially smart transportation infrastructure investments, as well as for the education and outreach to motivate a mode shift to those forms of transportation.
What larger goal is served by undertaking this project?
The development of the sustainable transportation network in Metro Vancouver, and the shift of residents to healthier, more environmentally friendly transportation habits.
The Organization
Organization Name
Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition
What community do you represent or work with?
Metro Vancouver residents
What is your organization/group's goal or mandate?
To make cycling an integral part of the transportation culture. We work to change the circumstances that discourage bicycle use: inadequate cycling facilities, and lack of education for both cyclists and motorists.

Are you a registered not-for-profit?
Yes
Contact Information
Contact Person
Erin O'Melinn
 
Position
Program Manager, Bike to Work
Mailing Address
Box 47068, RPO City Square,Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4L6
Telephone
778-239-7252
Fax
604-648-8975
Email
erin@vacc.bc.ca
  
Alternate Telephone
604-878-8222
Alternate Fax
 
Alternate Email
 
Project Plan of Action
Duration of Project
Smaller (One semester)
If you know the duration more specifically, please indicate here
 
What are the specific deliverables that you expect of the student?
The outcome will include a report including a brief introduction to the subject area and largely consisting of the numbers involved in the cost comparison. The report should include quantitative comparisons in the text as well as in visual form in a chart or table. Qualitative statements taken from Engineering discussions or readings may also add depth to the report, but are not mandatory.
Estimated time commitment per week
4 hours
Liaison
Liaison Name
Erin O'Melinn
  
Liaison Position
Program Manager, Bike to Work
Liason Contact Info (If different from above)
same
How much time per week will the
liaison be available to the project?
2 hours
How will the liaison provide direction and support to the project?
The liaison will help clarify details of the research question and scope, suggest contacts, and monitor/guide the progress of the student, giving feedback along the way to achieve an outcome that meets both the student’s and organization’s needs.
Student Researcher
Student area of study/experience
Geography, Resource Environmental Management, Sustainability, Engineering, Sociology, Anthropology, Urban Planning, Environmental Science
Student skills/attributes
Motivated, independent worker, pragmatic, able to communicate well and collect data on phone and email
Student related interests
Sustainable transportation, urban planning, urban geography

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