A Comprehensive Framework for Evaluating Cycling Infrastructure: Fusing Subjective Perceptions with Objective Data

Abstract

As cities increasingly prioritize green and low-carbon transportation, the development of effective cycling infrastructure has become essential for alleviating traffic congestion and reducing environmental impacts. However, the service quality of bike lanes remains inadequate. To address this gap, this study proposes a multi-data-fusion framework for evaluating bike lane “cycling friendliness”, integrating subjective perceptions with objective metrics. The framework combines survey-based subjective data with digital measurements to enable rapid, large-scale assessments that align with user expectations. Tailored evaluation models are developed based on revealed preference (RP) survey analysis to account for variations among target user groups. Key factors such as road roughness, motor vehicle encroachment, cycling-friendly amenities, and roadside scenery are quantitatively assessed using vibration analysis and computer vision techniques. Validation results reveal a strong correlation between model predictions and subjective evaluations, demonstrating the framework’s reliability and effectiveness. This approach offers a scalable, data-driven tool for optimizing bike route selection and guiding infrastructure upgrades, thus advancing urban cycling transportation.