Investigating Cycle Route Preferences in the Greater Dublin Area

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
As outlined at the outset of the current study, the National Cycle Manual guidelines provide robust advise to practioners in the planning and design of cycle networks. The purpose of this research was to add further clarity in relation to individual preference regarding infrastructure and the measures which are most likely to achieve modal shift. In this regard, findings from the current study provide an interesting insight to the variations, and similarities, in preferences among existing cyclists and non cyclists.

A summary of the findings is as follows:

• Improvements in infrastructure for cyclists is the most important measure in encouraging a growth in cycling. This is followed by the need for increased bike parking and better facilities for cyclists such as showers and lockers at work;

• Direct routes with short journey times are the most important variable for existing cyclists and non-cyclists in determining route choice. This is followed by infrastructure type, the number of junctions along the route, traffic speed and cyclist volumes;

• In terms if infrastructure, regardless of the level of cycling confidence, routes which have ‘no facilities’ or ‘bus/cycle lanes’ are the least favoured cycle route types;

• There appears to be no direct correlation between cycling confidence and route choice preference with confident cyclists demonstrating a similar preference for the presented infrastructure types as respondents with no cycling confidence;

• There is, however, a small proportion of very confident cyclists who place high importance on short journey times and direct facilities with low cyclist
volumes. For these cyclists, type of infrastructure and traffic speeds are of less relevance;

• Respondents who currently drive or use public transport to travel to work have a poor perception of cycling and demonstrate a greater need for segregation and lower vehicular speeds;

• Regardless of cycling confidence, there is a similar preference for fewer junctions along cycle routes;

• Respondents who walk/cycle to work have the greatest value of time for the journey to work; and

• Cyclists with little or no experience have a greater preference for routes with a high volume of cyclists;

• The perception of conflict between cyclist and pedestrian shared space is evident with respondents who currently walk to work expressed low favourability for off road cycling facilities and routes through ‘parks/residential areas’.

RECOMMENDATIONS
As highlighted at the outset of the current study, challenging targets for a modal shift to cycling have been set. In order to achieve these targets, the current research concludes with the following recommendations:

• There is a need to prioritise investment in cycling infrastructure. In terms of the type of infrastructure, high quality segregated facilities are likely to be
most favoured by existing cyclists and encourage a shift to cycling. The second preference is for routes through ‘Parks/quiet residential areas’, which could easily be encouraged with minor investment in signage and infrastructure improvements, assuming the routes provide a direct alternative;

• Improvement in safety for cyclists at junctions needs to form an integrated element in the provision of any cycling infrastructure;

• There is a need to reconsider design approach to ‘bus/cycle lanes’ which are negatively viewed by confident and inexperienced cyclists;

• Investment in infrastructure needs to be supported by improvements in bike parking and facilities in the workplace;

• There is a strong role for cycle training to bridge the narrow, but consequential gap, between perceptions of cycling safety among existing cyclists and noncyclists,
particularly among commuters who currently travel by public transport users and by car;

• To encourage an increase in female cyclists, the results indicate a greater need to invest in segregated infrastructure and introduce lower speed limits. However, it is apparent that there is also a strong role for cycle training, improving facilities in the workplace and improving awareness of local cycle
routes.