Perceptions of potential cycling infrastructure in a low-cycling context: Evidence from a medium-sized urban area

A key factor for the use of bicycles for transportation is the presence of safe and pleasant infrastructure. While research mostly focuses on large cities, cycling infrastructure and use are still incipient in many small and medium-sized cities. Because of their spatial context and very low and demographically uneven cycle use, it is key to understand how the potential of growing infrastructure is perceived among the general population, as well as how these perceptions differ based on personal characteristics. We focus on Camp de Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain), a polycentric urban area where bicycles are used for transportation for less than 1% of trips, and where local authorities have shown renewed interest in expanding and improving the current infrastructure to increase bicycle usage. We examine the perception of residents in the study area regarding various bicycle infrastructure scenarios through a visual preference analysis using photo evaluation. The representative survey was conducted with over 1,000 individuals in 2022, which demonstrates a widespread willingness to cycle as a means of transportation. However, this desire remains unmet due to inadequate infrastructure and an urban configuration that generally discourages cycling. The results show a need for recognizable, safe and segregated cycling infrastructure, though with differing perceptions between gender and age groups and between levels of urban density. The understanding of diverse sociodemographic nuances in the preferences of non-cyclists emerges as vital for promoting cycling as a feasible and socially inclusive transportation choice, highlighting the importance of tailored infrastructure to encourage cycling and enhance accessibility.

自行车交通出行的核心影响因素之一，在于是否具备安全且舒适的骑行基础设施。尽管现有研究多聚焦于大型城市，但全球诸多中小城市的骑行基础设施建设与骑行出行占比仍处于起步阶段。鉴于中小城市的空间属性，且其骑行出行占比极低、人口结构下的骑行使用情况分布不均，因此了解普通民众对新增骑行基础设施潜力的感知情况，以及这类感知如何随个人特征产生差异，便成为了关键课题。本研究聚焦于西班牙加泰罗尼亚塔拉戈纳地区（Camp de Tarragona），该区域为多中心都市区，自行车出行占比不足总出行量的1%，且当地政府近期重新重视起扩建与优化现有骑行基础设施，以期提升自行车出行比例。本研究通过照片评估法开展视觉偏好分析，以此探究研究区域内居民对各类骑行基础设施方案的感知态度。2022年，研究团队面向超1000名受访者开展了代表性抽样调查，结果显示当地居民普遍愿意将自行车作为交通出行方式，但受限于不完善的骑行基础设施与整体不利于骑行的城市布局，这一出行意愿尚未得到满足。研究结果表明，当地亟需打造辨识度高、安全且与其他交通方式隔离的骑行基础设施，但不同性别、年龄群体以及不同城市密度区域的居民，对此类设施的感知偏好存在显著差异。深入了解非骑行群体在出行偏好上的各类社会人口学细微差异，对于推动自行车成为可行且兼具社会包容性的交通选择至关重要，这也凸显了打造定制化骑行基础设施、鼓励骑行出行并提升交通可达性的重要意义。