Title: Carbon costs and savings of Greenways: creating a balance sheet for the sustainable design and construction of cycling routes

Authors: Richard Manton; Alan Duggan; Jamie Goggins; Eoghan Clifford

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland ' Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland ' Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland ' Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland

Abstract: A modal shift to cycling has the potential to reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector. However, the carbon footprint of constructing new cycling routes, particularly greenways, has not been previously considered and has the potential to negate carbon savings of the modal shift of many commuters. This paper, using a case study of a greenway in Ireland, describes a methodology for calculating the carbon costs and savings associated with cycle route construction. By carrying out a life cycle assessment (LCA), the case study greenway was found to embody 67.6 tCO₂e/km; the carbon savings of shifting one passenger kilometre travelled (PKT) from driving a car to cycling were found to average 134 gCO₂e. In the case study, a shift of 115 commuters per year (253,000 PKT) is required to 'balance' or offset the carbon footprint of one 10 km asphalt greenway (assuming a 20 year life cycle). The methodology presented can be used to ensure the efficient and sustainable design of cycle networks internationally.

Keywords: greenways; cycle routes; carbon footprint; carbon emissions; carbon costs; carbon savings; modal shift; life cycle assessment; LCA; sustainable transport; asphalt; sustainable design; environment; sustainable development; cycling; Ireland; cycle networks; cycle network design; CO2; carbon dioxide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2014.056409

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2014 Vol.13 No.1, pp.3 - 19

Received: 25 Oct 2012
Accepted: 24 Apr 2013
Published online: 24 May 2014 *

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