Air quality

Due to European rules, as laid down in the Dutch Air Quality Resolution, problems have occurred on many locations in the Netherlands. Construction of new infrastructure leading to a deterioration of air quality is blocked. Quite often existing busy arterial roads in built-up areas do not meet the new air quality requirements and new solutions have to be found. Bicycle traffic is involved in this discussion in several ways. First of all cyclists are troubled by this air quality - in particular fine and ultra-fine particles: Cyclists and traffic emissions. Secondly, a revision of traffic circulation caused by air quality problems may deteriorate or improve the situation on cycling routes. Thirdly, this may be a reason to reinforce cycling policy in order to encourage people to change from car to bicycle (Air Quality Resolution: incentive for cycling policy?). Intensifying cycling policy with a view to air quality is a highly recommended solution (Bicycle and air quality( Fiets en luchtkwaliteit), which is as yet however not (yet) often put into practice. Although there are initiatives such as Breukelen: Stimulating bicycle use due to the air quality on the main route through the village (Breukelen employs Flemish promotion campaign).

6 Results

Report	Health first in Austrian Masterplan Radfahren Helmut Koch - TRAFICO , Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft 2006 Following the Dutch example, the Austrian government has established a national bicycle policy, the Masterplan Radfahren. The new national bicycle policy is indeed wide ranging, both in analyses and in measures.
Article	Bicycle policies: what is the yield? Ron Hendriks , Fietsverkeer nr. 19 2008 The social costs/benefits of bicycles can not easily be calculated. Apart from better health, substituting car trips for cycling provides advantages in other fields as well. For instance because cycling has hardly any environmental drawbacks. There is no study that covers all aspects, but adding up a number of substudies clearly demonstrates that the social profit is considerable. The question remains how this profit can be cashed.
Article	Breukelen employs Flemish promotion campaign 2006 As part of its air quality policy, Breukelen imported the Flemish campaign Met belgerinkel naar de winkel, to promote visits to shops by bicycle.
Article	Air Quality Resolution, incentive for cycling policy? Ir. Marien G. Bakker , Fietsverkeer 2005 Survey of content and impact of the Air Quality Resolution on traffic policy, demonstrating there may be chances for cycling policy.
Report	Cyclists and traffic emissions Elias den Breejen , Universiteit Utrecht 2006 Technical report on the exposure of cyclists to fine and ultra-fine particles, composed on behalf of Fietsbalans-2.
Article	Bicycle and air quality 2005 For Natuur & Milieu (Nature and Environment) (and calculated by CE), it is one of the ten most effective municipal measures for healthier air: invest in bicycle-friendly towns.