Bicycle-friendly cities: The relevance of urban form and infrastructure

Robertson, Kerstin; Bamberg, Sebastian; Parkin, John; Fyhri, Aslak

Abstract

This report presents the results of a study with the overall aim of analysing the extent to which urban
form and the design of the transport system can explain the level of cycling. The analysis is based on
published studies of the relationship between cycling and various properties of the physical urban
environment. A statistical meta-analysis, of aggregated variables, was carried out based on data
extraction from relevant published studies as well as an analysis of the conclusions drawn in a number of
review articles. The report concludes with an analysis of what options and grounds exist to provide
planners with guidelines to encourage cycling in urban areas.
The analysis showed that all aggregate variables that were included in the statistical meta-analysis had a
significant impact on bicycle use. The main contribution of this work is in providing a quantitative
measure of their effects. Distance was the most important factor associated with levels of bicycle use and
the association was negative (r = -0.61 to -0.40), as would be expected. The other variables included in
the analysis were positively associated with bicycle use. Land use, which was operationalised as
measures of density and accessibility, was the second most important variable (r = +0.03 to +0.47). Other
variables in the analysis included the transport system (r = +0.11 to +0.29), the urban environment
(r = 0.12 to 0.27), and safety (r = 0.08 to 0.21). The transport system variable was represented by
measures of the street and bicycle network density, and the presence and quality of infrastructure for
cycling. The urban environment covered various properties such as type of housing and neighborhood,
but also aesthetic qualities and attractiveness, and safety included both safety and security. The findings
agreed well with the results from the analysis of conclusions in published reviews addressing these
issues.
In practical planning, the relative importance of the identified variables, and factors included, need to be
evaluated in each specific case, since current conditions have a large influence on what effect can be
expected from different measures. Deficits in one area can not be compensated with measures in another.
Instead, comprehensive programs and interventions in urban and transport planning are highly important
to motivate increased bicycle use. Such an approach, however, requires a common understanding and
expectations of city and traffic development in policy and planning, involving both citizens and other
stakeholders.

• Report Type: Project Report
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Dec 16, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 10, 2016
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• ISBN: 0347-6030
• Keywords: bicycle, systematic review, meta-analysis, urban planning, transport planning, built environment
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/940138
• Publisher URL: http://www.vti.se/sv/publikationer/cykelvanlig-stad--betydelsen-av-stadsutformning-och-infrastruktur/
• Related Public URLs: http://www.vti.se/publikationer
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This report was produced for and published by VTI and can be found on their website here http://www.vti.se/sv/publikationer/cykelvanlig-stad--betydelsen-av-stadsutformning-och-infrastruktur/
• Contract Date: Feb 10, 2016