Evaluation of a New Urban Cycling Infrastructure in Caceres (Spain)

• Main Author: Pedro Plasencia-Lozano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: bicycle network; surveys; new infrastructure; planning; mid-size city
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1910

The purpose of the research is the evaluation of the impact of a new bike lane network built in Cáceres (Spain) in October 2019, a city with a weak tradition in the use of bicycles. Prior to the new project, the percentage of displacement by bicycle was under 0.2% (by contrast, private cars was 56%). The project has introduced a real network in 33 new streets and avenues, and 250 new parking places for bicycles. The impact has been evaluated by two online surveys, one conducted in November–December 2019 just after the inauguration, and the other conducted in January–February 2020. For that, the impact evolution after the first 3 months has also been evaluated. The result allows to analyze the citizens' response to the new infrastructure; the main conclusion is that the effect of the built infrastructure is clearly positive in terms of new users, new potential users, and bike general image for the citizens. Moreover, this positive effect has grown after the first 3 months.