Do Protected Cycle Lanes Make Cities More Bike-Friendly? Evidence from a Historical City

Creating a sustainable and cyclist-friendly urban environment is of paramount importance for urban development. This study addresses the significance of spatial heterogeneity in this pursuit and challenges the consensus that protected cycle lanes always guarantee better Bikeability. Specifically, it emphasizes the limitations of reallocating space resources, particularly in heritage preservation regions. To evaluate Bikeability on a large-scale geographic level, a novel framework utilizing deep learning and street view images (SVIs) is proposed. Factor analysis is applied to extract potential Built Environment (BE) features at both street-level and neighborhood-level, categorized into three domains: Safety, Comfort & Pleasurability, and Accessibility & Feasibility. The study reveals that the effectiveness of mixed cycle lanes can be influenced by the interplay of BE variables, challenging the assumption that protected cycle lanes always ensure better Bikeability. Furthermore, the research emphasizes that enhancing the sustainable cycling environment requires tailored approaches due to spatial disparities between old town and new town areas. For historical regions with limited space resources, addressing physical disorder emerges as a primary factor to be prioritized and promoted. The insights gained from this research offer valuable strategies for enhancing Bikeability in diverse urban contexts, providing effective approaches for areas with varying urban structures and heritage conservation measures. By understanding the intricate relationship between spatial heterogeneity, BE features, and Bikeability, urban planners and policymakers can develop targeted interventions and initiatives to create cyclist-friendly environments that cater to the unique needs and desires of cyclists.