Urban Planning and Transport Research · 2014 · 277 citations · 25 references
Public HealthTransportation PlanningUrban PlanningBicycle PlanningTransportTransportationBicycle SafetyBicycle TransportationCycling InfrastructureSustainable TransportSustainable TransportationTransportation SystemsBicycle Infrastructure EvaluationBicycle Infrastructure PlanningBicycle Urban DesignCycling Infrastructure EvaluationCycling Network DesignCyclist SafetyInfrastructure Provision PlanningUrban Bicycle Infrastructure Safety
Literature indicates that cyclists’ safety perceptions dominate their decision to ride, yet how infrastructure meets diverse cyclist needs remains under‑researched. The study investigates whether well‑designed bicycle infrastructure can increase cycling uptake by comparing European cities’ networks through ride‑along assessments. Researchers evaluated six European cities—Edinburgh, Cambridge, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht—using a literature‑based scoring system and paired ride‑alongs to assess coherence, directness, attractiveness, safety, and comfort. The study recommends specific design improvements to enhance safety, attractiveness, and overall quality of existing bicycle infrastructure.
This research posits the question that good design of the bicycle infrastructure in a city will encourage more people to cycle. Research is carried out to compare the cycle infrastructure in selected European cities against an adapted Level of Service concept using accompanied ride-alongs. The literature review on the factors that encourage/dissuade cycle use suggests that it is the potential rider's perceptions on the safety of cycling in their neighbourhood that is the deciding feature. Moreover, the literature review showed that contextual factors such as whether the actual infrastructure meets the needs of different cyclists are relatively under-researched. Six case study cities were selected (Edinburgh, Cambridge, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht) and compared on a range of factors by the riders including the coherence, directness, attractiveness, safety and comfort of the network. A cycle infrastructure scoring system was derived from the cycling research literature and the research was carried out by the researcher, an experienced cyclist, accompanied by an inexperienced cyclist. Using this research, the article makes several recommendations for improving and enhancing existing cycle infrastructure provision.
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