Cycling with nature in cities: a scoping review considering weather and climate

Abstract

This scoping review examines how urban natural environments, particularly green and blue spaces, influence cycling behaviour in cities, as reflected in the existing body of research on this topic. Specifically, it considers how weather and climate conditions are taken into account, and whether they influence the consistency of the relationship between nature and cycling. A systematic search of the Scopus and Web of Science databases identified 36 empirical studies, mainly conducted in Europe, North America, and East Asia. Overall, the findings show that natural characteristics encourage cycling, with their visual aesthetic appeal being one of the most important drivers of this relationship. While studies on eye-level visibility mostly report positive results, data on overhead greenery and land cover frequently show weak or negative correlations. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that the nature-cycling association is generally less stable under harsher climate conditions. This suggests that the natural environment is more challenged in these settings, and that its role should evolve from that of a desirable aesthetic amenity to that of a necessary climate-resilient infrastructure providing essential thermal comfort, particularly in warmer climates. This finding highlights the need for the climate-specific design of natural infrastructure in order to successfully promote sustainable micromobility in the context of rising global temperatures.