Cyclability is the degree of ease of bicycle circulation. [4] A greater degree of cyclability in cities is related, among others, to benefits for people's health, lower levels of air and noise pollution, improved fluidity of traffic or increased productivity. [5] [6] [7]
Among the factors that affect cyclability are: [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
The safety of cycle paths is a requirement for high cyclability:
A coherent cycling network implies:
Bicycles are driven by people's physical exercise, therefore, a highly cyclable cycling network must allow direct movement without great effort:
One of the best indicators of the degree of cyclability is the balanced proportion of genders and ages that make daily use of the bicycle. Women, children and the elderly are the ones who have a greater perception of insecurity, so if a city has low cyclability, they will not consider the bicycle as a usual means of transport. On the contrary, a composition of bicycle users similar to the demographic structure will indicate a highly cyclable space. [6] [14]
A bike path or a cycle path is a bikeway separated from motorized traffic and dedicated to cycling or shared with pedestrians or other non-motorized users. In the US a bike path sometimes encompasses shared use paths, "multi-use path", or "Class III bikeway" is a paved path that has been designated for use by cyclists outside the right of way of a public road. It may or may not have a center divider or stripe to prevent head-on collisions. In the UK, a shared-use footway or multi-use path is for use by both cyclists and pedestrians.
Effective Cycling is a trademarked cycling educational program designed by John Forester, which was the national education program of the League of American Wheelmen for a number of years until Forester withdrew permission for them to use the name.
Vehicular cycling is the practice of riding bicycles on roads in a manner that is in accordance with the principles for driving in traffic, and in a way that places responsibility for safety on the individual.
Bogotá is the Americas city with the most extensive and comprehensive network of bike paths with a total of 564 kilometers at year 2022. Bogotá’s bike paths network or Ciclorrutas de Bogotá in Spanish, designed and built and is also one of the most extensive in the world.
Cycling is the second-most common mode of transport in the Netherlands, with 36% of Dutch people listing the bicycle as their most frequent way of getting around on a typical day, as opposed to the car (45%) and public transport (11%). Cycling has a modal share of 27% of all trips nationwide. In cities this is even higher, such as Amsterdam which has 38%, and Zwolle 46%. This high frequency of bicycle travel is enabled by excellent cycling infrastructure such as cycle paths, cycle tracks, protected intersections, ample bicycle parking and by making cycling routes shorter and more direct than car routes.
A cycle track, separated bike lane or protected bike lane is an exclusive bikeway that has elements of a separated path and on-road bike lane. A cycle track is located within or next to the roadway, but is made distinct from both the sidewalk and general purpose roadway by vertical barriers or elevation differences.
A shared lane marking, shared-lane marking, or sharrow is a street marking installed at various locations worldwide, such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Spain, and the United States. This marking is placed in the travel lane to indicate where people should preferably cycle.
Cycling infrastructure is all infrastructure cyclists are allowed to use. Bikeways include bike paths, bike lanes, cycle tracks, rail trails and, where permitted, sidewalks. Roads used by motorists are also cycling infrastructure, except where cyclists are barred such as many freeways/motorways. It includes amenities such as bike racks for parking, shelters, service centers and specialized traffic signs and signals. The more cycling infrastructure, the more people get about by bicycle.
The Ciclopaseo is a project created by Biciaccion Foundation. It was administrated by this organization from 2003 until 2007, from there it was organized by the local organization Ciclopolis until 2017. Nowadays the local traffic law enforcement organisation is administering the project. A route of 30 km running from the North to South of the city is closed to traffic every Sunday from 8 am until 2 pm to give preference to cyclists and pedestrians. The project is run in cooperation with the Municipality and features diverse locations of the city from Carolina Park, Ejido Park the Historic Center of Quito, Avenue Rio Amazonas, and The Panecillo.
The World Bike Forum (WBF), (FMB), is a yearly cycling activism event in which the topics of bicycle urban mobility and the planning of cities made by and for the people are discussed.
EcoBici is a station-based bicycle-sharing system in Buenos Aires, Argentina which began operating in 2010. The service is free of charge to both residents of the city and tourists, and is available 24 hours a day. After one hour of use on weekdays, two hours during the weekend and on holidays, the bike has to be returned and the user has to wait fifteen minutes to get another one. The system is still being expanded and, as of 2019, has 195 km (121 mi) of lanes completed. Stations are automatic and require the use of a smartphone application or a smart card, not in joint with the Sube card system, acquired upon registering for the service. Usage according to the terms of use is controlled via a rating system which can lead to restricted to total exclusion from the system.
Cycling is a mode of transport in Spain with 20% of the people listing the bicycle as their mode of transport, though some Spanish cities as Valencia, Vitoria and Zaragoza well exceed that with 45%.
A bicycle highway, also known as a cycling superhighway, fast cycle route or bike freeway, is an informal name for a bicycle path that is meant for long-distance traffic. There is no official definition of a bicycle highway. The characteristics of a cycle motorway mentioned by authorities and traffic experts include an absence of single-level intersections with motorized traffic, a better road surface and the absence of traffic lights. Bicycle highways are mentioned in connection with traffic jam. Owing to higher average speeds than normal cycling infrastructure, they provide an alternative to the car in commuter traffic. Often a cycle motorway follows the route of a railway or other linear infrastructure.
The city of Madrid has been increasing in the last years its network of bicycle paths. In 2016, there were 195 km of cycling routes. The former city council had been planning to build 400 km more for the year 2024 despite a very vocal opposition to the construction of segregated infrastructure by a significant part of the local cycling community. However now with the new right wing mayor elected in 2019 the city is set to be the only capital in the world where bicycle lanes are being removed again.
Cristina García Spínola de Brito is a Spanish journalist, athlete, television reporter, writer, and YouTuber. She is the first Spanish woman to ride around the world on a bicycle without technical support.
A pop-up bike lane is a temporary bike lane that can be used to test new strategies for bicycle traffic. In the event of a successful test phase, this measure can be implemented permanently.
The Currents Bridge, is a tied-arch bridge that crosses the Lérez River in the city of Pontevedra, Spain. It was inaugurated in 2012 and connects Uruguay Avenue and Domingo Fontán Street.
Muévete en Bici is an active mobility program in Mexico City. More than 20 million people annually participate in the open-streets events, with between 20,000 and 80,000 people participating weekly as public thoroughfares are closed to motor vehicles and therefore opened to all other travelers. Muévete currently uses 55 kilometres (34 mi) of roads through the center of the city. The program has become a popular way for tourists to take in the historic sites of Mexico City along Paseo de la Reforma.
Bicycles Are for the Summer is a 1984 Spanish war drama film directed by Jaime Chávarri and based on the homonym play by Fernando Fernán Gómez. It is about the life of a family during the Spanish Civil War. The photography started in July 1983 and it was distributed by Incine. It was shot in Madrid.
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