With the support of EUROCLIMA+, the Cycling Mobility Study will help to design better public policies in favour of the cycling population.
18 February 2022, Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico - When we increase cycling trips in a city, we bring improvements not only to people's health and emotional well-being, we also help create safer and more environmentally friendly urban spaces.
It is therefore very important for local governments to develop public policies and programmes aimed at the cycling population. This poses a challenge when there is no up-to-date information: How many people are cyclists, what are their travel routes and destinations, what factors prevent more bicycle use?
Cycling mobility plays a key role in the updating of the Plan Integrated Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (PIMUS) of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG) which is being developed with the support of the EUROCLIMA+ programme. In order to have information for directing actions to this approach in the third most populated metropolis in Mexico, the Cycling Mobility Study was developed, the results of which were presented in December 2021.
During a period of 7 months, from May to November 2021, with support from the German Sustainable Development Cooperation (GIZ) in Mexico, hard work was carried out covering the following components:
- Cyclist counts on strategic roads: To understand the mobility patterns of the current cycling population in the AMG.
- Cyclist characterisation survey: To characterise the habits, needs and problems of those who use bicycles.
- Non-cyclist characterisation survey: To find out the decisive elements in personal modal choice, as well as to integrate qualitative factors in strategies to promote cycling mobility.
The results of this study, as well as their interpretation and relevance for the design of future public policies, are presented below:
CYCLIST COUNTS ON STRATEGIC ROADS
Where are cyclists concentrated in the AMG?
Of the 9 municipalities of the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (AMG), Guadalajara concentrates 40% of cyclists, followed by Zapopan with 35%.
Municipalities close to the AMG centre, such as San Pedro Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, concentrate a significant number of cyclists (15%). The periphery of the AMG has a lower number of cyclists (8%).
What is the profile of cyclists in the AMG?
According to cyclist counts on strategic roads, overall, 93% of cyclists in the AMG are male, 6% are female and 1% could not be recognised.
This reflects significant gender differences.
In terms of age, the majority of cyclists in the AMG are between 30 and 39 years old. This is followed by the 20-29 year age group.
Cyclists in the AMG are relatively young.
Where do people cycle in the AGM?
Most cyclists use the carriageway for cycling. Between 20% and 23% use the pavement for cycling.
Most cyclists ride in the direction of the road; however, slightly more than 2 out of 10 cyclists ride in the opposite direction.
This could either reflect that the direction of the infrastructure does not meet the needs of all cyclists, or it is an area of opportunity to strengthen the road safety culture of cyclists.
CYCLIST CHARACTERISATION SURVEYS
What days do people cycle in the AGM?
In the AMG, one day a week,12,720 people cycle. The majority make trips 7 days a week (33%), followed by those who cycle 6 days a week (30%).
This could reflect that most people use bicycles for recurrent activities such as commuting to work or going to school.
How much do men and women use bicycles?
The majority of men (64%) cycle 6-7 days a week, while for women this percentage is lower (28%).
This reflects clear differences in cycling when analysed on a sex-segregated basis, which could be due to differential travel needs and activities, also impacting on the frequency of their modal choice.
How long have the cyclists been using bicycles?
Men have been using the bicycle longer than women in the AMG. A significant percentage of women started cycling less than a year ago (23%) as opposed to men (14%).
This suggests that, in percentage terms, there has been a greater attraction of women in recent months, which may be due to the restrictions and risks in the pandemic due to COVID-19.
What use do you give the bicycle?
In the AMG, most cyclists use the bicycle as a means of transport to carry out their activities (71%), a significant percentage (15%) use it for recreational activities and almost 13% use it for work (couriers, delivery persons, etc.).
Both men and women use bicycles as a means of transport. Almost 3 out of 10 women do so mainly for recreational purposes. A significant percentage of men (14%) use it for work.
NON-CYCLIST CHARACTERISATION SURVEYS
What is the main mode of transport of the non-cycling population?
Gender differences in modal choice make it possible to identify where to concentrate efforts and better understand the needs of the population. In this way, public policies are generated based on the means of transport used by men and women to make their trips.
What is the non-cycling population's knowledge of cycling?
On average, almost 8 out of 10 people know how to ride a bicycle. Nine out of 10 men know how to cycle; however, only 6 out of 10 women know how to do so. This represents an area of opportunity to reduce the cycling gap for women.
Women do not use bicycles because, among other factors, they do not know how to use them.
What is the potential for attracting new cyclists in the AGM?
47% of the surveyed population would never cycle in the AMG. 53% of people in the AMG could use bicycles as a means of transport, if the necessary conditions were created. This makes it clear that the AMG has great potential for people interested in cycling.
What are the reasons for not cycling?
Non-cyclists consider the danger of the AMG as the main barrier to cycling. In addition to not knowing how to use it, in the case of women.
Knowing the perception could help to dispel some of the myths surrounding cycling.
What actions would motivate people to cycle?
Mainly, more street lighting and more streets with bicycle lanes are the actions that could motivate people the most.
This makes it clear that cycling infrastructure is fundamental for motivating people to cycle in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.
CONCLUSIONS
One of the most striking results of the study is that a considerable number of people would be willing to cycle if the cycling infrastructure in the AMG were improved. To explore this potential, emphasis is placed on building safe, coherent, direct and attractive cycling infrastructure in areas that do not exceed tolerable levels of stress for people.
Another point to consider is the development of bicycle parking policies, as their increase could encourage the use of bicycles as a means of transport, according to international studies. In terms of their location, there is potential for care trips, such as schools or supermarkets, and for intermodal trips, such as near train stations and mass transit.
Not least, educational and promotional cycling programmes help to encourage people to use this mode of transport.
On the other hand, the data collected show an extremely high gap between men and women in terms of cycling (93% of people who use bicycles are men). It is important that all public policy actions consider the particular difficulties women face in using this mode of transport, their travel patterns, personal safety, among other aspects.
All these results were shared with the authorities of the Instituto Metropolitano de Planeación del Área Metropolitana de Guadalajara (IMEPLAN). These inputs will be included in the Integrated Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility (PIMUS) that is being developed in the metropolis with the support of EUROCLIMA+.
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union and co-financed by the German federal government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as by the governments of France and Spain through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
The Programme's mission is to reduce the impact of climate change and its effects in 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting mitigation, adaptation, resilience and climate investment. It is implemented according to the "Spirit of Team Europe" under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
For more information:
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