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Assessing the Bicycle Network in St. Louis: A PlaceBased User-Centered Approach

Author

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  • Bram Boettge

    (Center for Sustainability, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA)

  • Damon M. Hall

    (Center for Sustainability, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA)

  • Thomas Crawford

    (Center for Sustainability, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA)

Abstract

To transition towards sustainability and increase low-impact transportation, city planners are integrating bicycle infrastructure in urban landscapes. Yet, this infrastructure only promotes cycling according to how well it is sited within a specific city. How to best site bicycle facilities is essential for sustainability planning. We review approaches to assessing and siting new bicycle facilities. Following sustainability science, we argue that active cyclists should be consulted to incorporate users’ site-specific knowledge into bicycle infrastructure assessments. We then pilot an approach that surveys cyclists concerning level of stress along routes ridden in St. Louis, MO, USA. Among the active cyclists surveyed (n = 89), we found stress correlates with speed limit, roadway classification, and number of lanes. Although cyclists surveyed in St. Louis prefer roads with bike lanes over roads with sharrows or no infrastructure, the presence of bicycle infrastructure had no correlation with reported levels of stress. The piloted survey and spatial analytic tool are transferable to other localities. For planners, the maps generated by this participant data approach identify high-stress routes as targets of new infrastructure or information to direct cyclists to safer routes. For bicyclists, the maps generated identify low-stress routes for recreation and commuting.

Suggested Citation

  • Bram Boettge & Damon M. Hall & Thomas Crawford, 2017. "Assessing the Bicycle Network in St. Louis: A PlaceBased User-Centered Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-18, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:241-:d:89832
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Congbao Xu & Jing Wang & Yanxue Li & Weijun Gao, 2023. "Evaluation and Optimization Design of Coastal Cycling Environment Based on Importance Performance Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    3. Jonas Schmid-Querg & Andreas Keler & Georgios Grigoropoulos, 2021. "The Munich Bikeability Index: A Practical Approach for Measuring Urban Bikeability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Katarzyna Solecka & Katarzyna Nosal Hoy, 2022. "Using the PROMETHEE II Method for the Assessment of Recreational and Tourist Cycle Routes," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 820-845.
    5. Efthimios Bakogiannis & Thanos Vlastos & Konstantinos Athanasopoulos & Avgi Vassi & Georgia Christodoulopoulou & Christos Karolemeas & Stefanos Tsigdinos & Charalampos Kyriakidis & Maria-Stella Noutso, 2020. "Exploring Motivators and Deterrents of Cycling Tourism Using Qualitative Social Research Methods and Participative Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Alattar, Mohammad Anwar & Cottrill, Caitlin & Beecroft, Mark, 2021. "Public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) as a method for active travel data acquisition," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).

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