The Gross Potential for Cycling: Planning for human scale urban mobility

Abstract

While the bicycle is currently seen as one of leading transport modes in the quest for the design of post-carbon urban mobility systems, not all cities are in similar stages of adoption. Those with reduced bicycle modal shares, identified as ‘starter cycling cities’ face several challenges, particularly due to a lack of cycling tradition and technical know-how. Existing research and solutions, mostly targeted to cities in more advanced stages of cycling promotion, limit the effectiveness of available options to policy makers. The Gross Potential for Cycling is a PSS is grounded on fundamental research on the aspects influencing bicycle use, notably natural features, urban structure and socioeconomic factors. Steering away from the assessment of pre-existing bicycle infrastructure and attitudes, it generates a territorial assessment of the potential for cycling, aiming at the development of targeted and customized policies for different areas within the same city.