Measuring the Changes in Aggregate Cycling Patterns between 2003 and 2012 from a Space Syntax Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning
• Transportation Geography
• Spatial Analysis

Background:

• Global surge in cycling interest over the past decade.
• London has seen increased cyclists and infrastructure investment, including cycle superhighways.
• Limited understanding of cycling patterns and route choice factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• Measure the impact of cycling infrastructure and spatial configuration on cyclist movement.
• Analyze changes in cycling behavior and infrastructure impact over time.
• Investigate the relationship between the built environment and cyclist movement.

Main Methods:

• Developed a spatial-based statistical model for cyclist movement.
• Regressed cyclist flow with spatial configuration, safety, infrastructure, and urban attributes.
• Analyzed cycling movement data from 2003 and 2012 in Elephant and Castle, London.

Main Results:

• Confirmed significant cycling growth in London (1000% increase on some routes).
• Found higher cyclist movement on routes with convenience and continuity, more than traffic segregation.
• Observed consistent spatial configuration influence on cyclist movement between 2003 and 2012.

Conclusions:

• Cycling infrastructure and spatial configuration significantly influence cyclist movement.
• Route convenience and continuity are key factors for cyclist movement.
• Results inform urban design by highlighting trade-offs between safety and legibility for cyclists.