Cycling plan for Ecuador: Humboldt Fellow promotes cycling

In Ecuador, as in many other countries, the transport sector is responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions. However, a more sustainable mobility system overall would significantly reduce emissions while providing solutions for local mobility in growing cities. For example, incentives to increase the use of bicycles for commuting, such as some already exist in Germany, would be possible measures to achieve this goal. In his research project, Humboldt Fellow Juan Pablo Díaz is investigating both the current situation in Ecuador and the promotion of cycling in Germany. "The climate protection fellowship allows me to conduct research in Germany, and with the support of the Department of Cycling and Local Mobility, to finally contribute to clarifying the urgent issues in cycling that we need to promote it in Ecuador," says Díaz.

In the year-long research project, he will analyze existing barriers to bicycle use in Ecuador, such as in the areas of road safety, current policies and infrastructure. To this end, Mr. Díaz will evaluate the extent to which German measures can be adopted in his home country of Ecuador. His research will focus on the concrete analysis of impacts of promoting cycling on fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The results will then be presented publicly in various contexts to raise environmental awareness in Ecuador and Latin America in general. For this, it is helpful that the project has been designed with different government agencies in Ecuador, such as the Vice Presidency, as well as the Ministries of Transport, Sports and Environment. The goal is to prepare for the implementation of a national bicycle plan in Ecuador. Díaz is supported by the Department of Cycling and Local Mobility and the entire Institute of Transportation at the University of Kassel. "I am very much looking forward to exploring the success factors for a cycling plan together with Juan Pablo, and also to strengthening the University of Kassel's ties with Ecuador in the long term," explains Prof. Dr. Francke after the Humboldt Fellow's arrival.

Juan Pablo Díaz was Director of Technical Control at the National Land Transport Agency in Quito, Ecuador until March 2022 and taught road and freight transport at the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja. Previously, he was an associate scientist at the National Institute for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies, where he led basic research projects on energy efficiency in transportation and energy analysis of heavy-duty logistics chains in Ecuador.

Contact:

Prof.in Dr.in Angela Francke
Department of Cycling and Local Mobility
Tel: +49 - (0)561 804-7703
Mail: angela.francke[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
Web: www.uni-kassel.de/go/radverkehr