Cyclability

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Diversos carrils bici a Valencia 02.jpg
Segregated bike lane in Valencia.
Red de vias ciclistas de Valencia.png
Map of the cycle lanes of Valencia (in blue).
The city of Valencia has increased its cyclability by extending and connecting its cycle paths with each other through segregated bike lanes. In just a few years, it has managed to increase both the number of users in general [1] and the number of female cyclists in particular. [2] [3]

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]

Contents

Cyclability factors

Among the factors that affect cyclability are: [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Safety

The safety of cycle paths is a requirement for high cyclability:

Coherence

A coherent cycling network implies:

Directness

Bicycles are driven by people's physical exercise, therefore, a highly cyclable cycling network must allow direct movement without great effort:

Cyclability indicators

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]

See also

Related Research Articles

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effective Cycling</span> Vehicular cycling education

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicular cycling</span> Practice of riding bicycles on roads while obeying roadway rules

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling in the Netherlands</span> Dutch mode of transport

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycle track</span> Bikeway between a road and sidewalk, protected by barriers

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shared lane marking</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling infrastructure</span> Facilities for use by cyclists

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.

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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.

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References

  1. "Los usuarios de los carriles bici crecen en Valencia un 214% en cinco años". El País. 19 September 2021.
  2. Bono, Ferran (3 February 2020). "Las mujeres usan más las bici en Valencia en cuanto aumenta la seguridad". El País.
  3. "Se incrementa el uso de la bicicleta en València en las mujeres de entre 25 a 55 años". La Vanguardia. 8 April 2021.
  4. "Ensayo metodológico para evaluar la ciclabilidad de los carriles bici de la ciudad de Málaga. Caso del carril bici Universidad – Rectorado" (PDF). 2014.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Howell, Nicholas A.; Booth, Gillian L. (24 February 2022). "The Weight of Place: Built Environment Correlates of Obesity and Diabetes". Endocrine Reviews. 43 (6): 966–983. doi:10.1210/endrev/bnac005. PMC   9695105 . PMID   35201344. S2CID   247082694.
  6. 1 2 "Estrategia estatal por la bicicleta" (PDF). Ministerio de Transportes, Movilidad y Agenda Urbana. June 2021.
  7. "Ir al trabajo en bicicleta mejora la productividad". Cinco Días. 2 December 2015.
  8. Mollo, Ramiro Moler (March 2011). "Manual de Diseño para el Tráfico de Bicicletas". CROW.
  9. "Postura de ConBici ante las vías ciclistas". ConBici. November 2017.
  10. "Manual de parámetros para definir una clasificación según el grado de ciclabilidad" (PDF). Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación de España. May 2020.
  11. "Plan de ciclabilidad para Burgos 2020". Burgos Con Bici. 14 September 2020.
  12. "Claves para la integración de la bici en la movilidad urbana". ConBici. 13 October 2020.
  13. "Quality criteria for long-distance cycle routes. European Certification Standard" (PDF). European Cyclists' Federation. December 2021.
  14. "2ª Fase del Plan de Ciclabilidad. 2017-2022. Pamplona-Iruña" (PDF). Ayuntamiento de Pamplona.