Impacto del uso de la bicicleta en la reducción de gases de efecto invernadero emitidos en la Parroquia Matriz de Ambato

Abstract

This study analyzed the impact of the use of the bicycle, as an alternative to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), from motorized transport. The study place was La Matriz parish of Ambato city, which constitutes the hyper center of the capital of Tungurahua province. For which, an approximation of the calculation of GHG emissions from motorized transport was made, as well as an evaluation of the environmental impact of conventional mobility and sustainable mobility by means of the importance matrix and a survey was carried out on the sample population of the study area, to know people’s opinion regarding the use of the bicycle as transportation. For estimating of GHG, an examplig was developed based on bibliographic and fieldwork information, because of unexistence of official data about transport in the study area. For this reason, vehicles classified as car were uniquely considered. The environmental impact assesment was carried taking into consideration eleven environmental aspects of high relevance and the survey was based on the experience of sustainable mobility pilot plan of Ambato. The results showed that the use of the bicycle has a positive impact on GHG reduction that comes from conventional motorized transport, since its potential to avoid GHG emissions is in the order of 92 g CO2-eq trip-1 to 810 g CO2-eq trip-1, on the Latin American region. In addition, it was shown that people from La Matriz supports this active transport measure, with greater emphasis due to the COVID -19 emergency. However, insecurity, lack of road education in favor of cyclists and little political commitment have not allowed this alternative to be developed optimally