Cyclability

Cyclability factors

Among the factors that affect cyclability are:

Safety

The safety of cycle paths is a requirement for high cyclability:

• The safest roads are those that are segregated from motorized traffic (bike lanes), followed by shared paths and, finally, lanes shared with other vehicles.
• The width of cycle paths should be wide enough for two bikes to cross or pass each other safely.
• The visibility of the road must make it possible to anticipate possible braking and intersections, avoiding curves at right angles.
• Intersections must, in turn, be well marked for both cyclists and motorized traffic.
• The routes must avoid obstacles, such as lampposts or benches. Also prevent carrying the bike, such as on stairs, in which case bicycle ramps can be incorporated.
• The pavement must be smooth, with lowered obstacles such as curbs, with materials that do not offer too much resistance, that drain and are not slippery when it rains.

Coherence

A coherent cycling network implies:

• The cycle paths must cover the entire extension of the city, so that the bicycle can be used to go to as many destinations as possible. Ideally, there should be a cycle path within 250 meters of any point in the city.
• They have to be connected to each other continuously.
• There must be secure bicycle parkings both at the origin and at the destination of the routes.
• The design of cycle paths must be uniform, so that all citizens can quickly perceive the use of that path, avoiding conflicts.
• The routes must be correctly signposted, including the destinations offered by each of the routes.

Directness

Bicycles are driven by people's physical exercise, therefore, a highly cyclable cycling network must allow direct movement without great effort:

• The routes between origins and destinations can be made in the most linear way possible, without the need to make large deviations.
• The cycle paths should go through the main streets, as they are usually the ones that host the majority of shops and services.
• They should avoid or minimize slopes.
• Reduce the number of stops such as traffic lights or intersections, which require greater physical effort. This may included Idaho stop, dead red, or red-light-as-yield traffic laws.