From data to practice: a cycling path review to assess the impact of urban mobility measures on cyclists

This study presents a methodology to assess the safety of infrastructure systems. Observa-tion data show that frequently cyclists prefer to use non-cycling paths discarding exclusive bike lanes, compromising safety. Two cycling paths were chosen from GPS data collected in 2015 in Bologna area. Firstly, a checklist was outlined to assess the cycling infrastructure and to observe the presence of de-ficiencies. In this way, an accurate Bike-lane Safety Review is achieved. Then, on-site surveys on the paths enabled to analyze cyclists looking behaviour with an eye tracker tool and to notice their perception through interview. A crosscheck between checklists data and self-assessment interview highlighted an evident lack of signaling on bike lanes. A high percentage of cyclists pointed out that unsafe crossings are the most relevant problem, even if in the nearly totality the choice of the path depends only on travel time. Consequently, rational infrastructural improvements revealed to be necessary. The checklist is able to help local administrations in the management of cycling infrastruc-tures through the identification of issues in order to guarantee comfort, safety and perfor-mance. The consequence is a benefit on infrastructures’ attractiveness and encouragement of sustainable mobility. A benefit is the virtuous cycle created, where active citizens, through the activity of expertise from local authorities, are final beneficiaries of a safer mobility.