1.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNIVERSITY, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, ADVOCAY AND BICYCLE
INDUSTRY: THE ROLE OF THE BICYCLE TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORM IN PORTUGAL
José Carlos Mota - University of Aveiro (jcmota@ua.pt)
Frederico Moura e Sá - University of Aveiro; Gil Ribeiro – University of Aveiro; Paulo Rodrigues - ABIMOTA
http://www.ua.pt/ptbicicleta/ https://www.facebook.com/ptbicicleta ptbicicleta@ua.pt

2.
GOAL OF THE PRESENTATION
• discuss the potential of the new
relationship between knowledge,
governance, advocacy and the
bicycle industry (tetra-helix), in
the light of the challenges of the
new European framework 2014-
2020;
• to make a critical assessment of
the activities developed;
• outline bridges that can be
developed with other countries
where this interface
methodology is being developed;

3.
1. NEEDS AND CHALLENGES
The answer to the needs of economic, social and cultural actors and local authorities
in the field of cycling mobility and the different societal challenges requires new
multidisciplinary approaches and new instruments.
REINVENTING THE WHEEL!

4.
• We have more than 4 million cars in
Portugal (double than twenty years
ago) that produce more than 60% of
daily trips, 3 times more than we
had 20 years ago, and part of them
are short trips – less than 15 km;
• In 2012, the number of bikes sold
exceeded the number of cars sold in
the same year (113,408 cars and
350,000 bicycles); increasing
everyday bicycles;
• Portuguese industry is in the TOP 5
European production of accessories
and bicycle parts and TOP 7
European's bicycle production; a
significant part of that industrial
production is in the region of
Aveiro;
• Sector valued at EUR 200 million
(exports);
BIKE IS TRENDY!

5.
VALUE
• Production of bicycles and components
• Trade and Repairs
• Infrastructure (Pavement, furniture and
signage)
• Tourism (Hotels and restaurants)
• Services (bicycle and Logistics)
• Accessories (Textiles, Plastics, Metal, ...)
Increase the value chain, incorporating
knowledge!
Green jobs in cycling as the moto for the
reindustrialization of Europe;
But also the social value and «future value»
(health and environmental benefits)
ECONOMIC VALUE

6.
Strategy:
• Attract investment;
• Support internationalization;
• Promote entrepreneurship
• Develop bicycle tourism;
• Stimulate Bike-friendly territories;
• Articulate previous ideas in a Green
Economy/Well-being framework
Common strategy and involvement of
key actors!
PORTUGAL’S BIKE VALLEY & VALUE

7.
2. CHALLENGES OF AVEIRO REGION
• Aveiro is the Portuguese region where there are
more regular cyclists in Portugal - 28% of regular
bike users work and school, eight times higher
than the national average (3.9%). In the region,
Murtosa 17% of trips are made by bike (the
highest value at the National level) and Ílhavo
em Aveiro with 2,000 regular users, have the
highest absolute value at the National level.
• More than half the population has a bike at
home (535 bicycles per thousand inhabitants),
higher than the average motorization rate of
municipalities - 502 vehicles / 1000 inhabitants.
• Region is committed to the improvement of cycle
paths and encourage the use of bicycles for daily
trips (PIMTRA, 2014); the regional administration
putted the focus on promoting Cluster bike and
sustainable mobility as one of the priorities for
2014-2020;

8.
CONTEXT OF COLABORATION WITH THE REGION
X SEMANA EUROPEIA DO CICLOTURISMO 2014
IX CONGRESSO IBÉRICO A BICICLETA E A CIDADE 2013
BUGA AND SMART TICKETING 2014
LIFECYCLE 2008
CICLORIA 2008-2012
PIMTRA 2009-2013
VELÓDROMO NACIONAL 2012
BE ÁGUEDA 2010
MURTOSA CICLÁVEL 2008
PÓLIS RIA 2009-2013

9.
BICYCLE INOVATIVE ECOSSISTEM
UNIVERSITY
AVEIRO
BICYCLE
INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION
ABIMOTA
CIRA
AVEIRO
REGION
INTERMUNICIPAL
COMMUNITY
NGO
CITIZENS
INOVARIA
ICT CLUSTER
ASSOCIATION
PUBLIC
ORGANIZATIONS
CYCLING
FEDERATION
MIRALAGO
BEWEGEN
PONTO .C
MICRO-IO
UBIWHERE
BIKEEMOTION
(…)
LARUS
REVIGRÉS
AMORIM CORK
PARENT ASSOCIATIONS
TRANSITION GROUPS
ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSOCIATIONS
POLICE – PSP
SCHOOLS
BICYCLE DESIGNERS
CYCLE TOURISM
OPERATORS
TEXTIL MANUFACTORS
OTHER UNIVERSITIES
AND RESEARCH
CENTRES
SPORT FACILITIES
VELODROME
COMMON GOAL
BICYCLE
ACCESSORIES
MIRANDA IRMÃO
RODI
POLISPORT
INTERNATIONAL
NETWORKS
LIVEABLE CITIES

10.
3. BICYCLE TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORM
an informal structure, composed researchers from various departments or research units, with
cross and multidisciplinary expertise to give answers to research, development and innovation
challenges in partnership with different public and private stakeholders.

11.
Support the establishment of favorable conditions to promote the use of bicycle and
soft modes and the R&D on soft modes as a way to provide the improvement of the
environment, economy, territory and life of citizens and communities.
MISSION

12.
TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BICYCLE ECONOMY AND SUPPORT THE CREATION OF
NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ;
MAIN TARGETS
TO PROMOTE THE BIKE-FRIENDLY TRANSFORMATION OF CITIES, TERRITORIES AND MOBILITY
TO MOBILISE THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL PLAYERS, AS WELL AS FROM THE KNOWLEDGE
AND CIVIL SOCIETY SECTOR AND CREATE A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
TO PRODUCE CRITICAL DEBATE ABOUT THE TERRITORY, SOCIETY, MOBILITY AND THE SOFT WAYS
OF MOBILITY.

13.
INTERVENTION AREAS
PEDESTRIAN MODE
Pedestrian and public space
BICYCLE / ECONOMY
Bicycle | Bicycle Components | Bicycle Accessories
BICYCLE/ MOBILITY AND TERRITORY
Infrastructures | Environment & Energy | Bike Sharing Systems| Mobility and Territory
BICYCLE/ USERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND MOTIVATION
Users and Motivation | Stakeholders | Memory | Events e Contents
UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO
BICYCLE AND SOFT
MOBILITY TECHNOLOGICAL
PLATFORM

14.
UACAMPUS-CITY BIKE-FRIENDLY
WORKING GROUPS
BIKE, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SPORTS
ELECTRIC BIKE
MOBILITY, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
CARGO-BIKES
BIKE-FRIENDLY REGIONS
BIKE SHARING
ECONOMIC VALUE OF BICYCLE
TOURISM AND LEISURE CYCLING
BICYCLE HISTORY
URBAN PLANNING

15.
4. ACTIVITIES OF THE ACTORS INVOLVED
AGENDA
Support internationalization;
Promote entrepreneurship
Develop bicycle tourism;
Stimulate Bike-friendly
territories;
Articulate previous ideas in a
Green Economy/Well-being
framework

16.
• Enterprises with relevant export quota
• ABIMOTA with presence in major
international fairs of the sector
(Smooth Mobility II) and cooperation
in South America
• CAR is internationalized; winning
athletes worldwide;
• European Projects (Municipalities) -
SITE - Rethinking BUGA
• Partnerships with international
Research Centers (UA / PTBMS) -
Bikesharing, Bicycle tourism;
SUPPORT INTERNATIONALIZATION

17.
• Support initiatives for
entrepreneurship and incubation in
Aveiro region in complementary
areas to bike (Tourism and TICE eg.)
• Organize new co-creation bicycle
event on ideas and mobility in
bicycle in response to challenges
posed by the community; focused
on new future entrepreneurs
(students of various departments
and alumni)
PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

18.
• Map bike tourism products based on
existing heritage resources of the Ria
de Aveiro (scientific and empirical
knowledge);
• Collect international experience in the
tourism offer in bicycle and municipal
management of leisure bike paths
networks and tourism (benchmarking
and product design);
• Start working with operators;
• Develop projects articulating
technology produced in the region -
INOVARIA (mapping, navigation,
dissemination);
DEVELOP BICYCLE TOURISM

19.
• Create safer walking and cycling for the
university and promote the use of
bicycles in commuting to the campus;
• Study cycle infrastructures, signaling
and parking in coordination with the
Technical Services of the University
and Municipality;
• Promote the use of bicycles by
students of the UA - initiatives
promoted by the Academic Association
- Bicycle Sales and 1st Academic
Participatory Budget for Cycling
promotion!
STIMULATE BIKE-FRIENDLY TERRITORIES

20.
• Map "BIKE AND GREEN ECONOMY"
(national and regional) - first effort
http://www.gisforcloud.com/bikedata/
• Evaluate the economic value of bicycle;
• Organize events on "BIKE AND GREEN
ECONOMY" (Launch of PTBMS, ...)
• Work with Coalition for Green Growth /
Portugal 2020
• Proposal for the Velocity2017 bid!
PROMOTE THE AGENDA OF GREEN ECONOMY/WELL-BEING

21.
• CIRA, ABIMOTA and UA aligned with long
and fruitful working relationship;
• Municipalities with projects with
international references (MURTOSA
cycling, BUGA, CAR ANADIA, BEAGUEDA)
• Export productive and innovative sector;
• Research on bicycle and smooth mobility -
technology platform bike;
• Sports and civic associations with
remarkable dynamics;
• Alignment with European agenda
(sustainable mobility and green economy)
IT’S NOW!
AVEIRO REGION AS A REFERENCE

22.
• Communication - Not fully
understood the potential of this
cycling approach;
• Concertation - arenas to
articulate different actors
(political, scientific, enterprises,
civic,…);
• Finance support - Portugal 2020
and Centro 2020 not yet aligned
with cycling/green economy
agenda;
FINAL CHALLENGES/DIFICULTIES

23.
http://www.ua.pt/ptbicicleta/
https://www.facebook.com/ptbicicleta
ptbicicleta@ua.pt
BICYCLE AND SOFT MOBILITY TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORM
«Support the establishment of favorable conditions to
promote the use of bicycle and soft modes and the R&D on
soft modes as a way to provide the improvement of the
environment, economy, territory and life of citizens and
communities»
UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO