Work

Improving Urban Cyclability and Perceived Bikeability: A Decision Support System for the City of Milan, Italy

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This paper presents a Decision Support System (DSS) designed to enhance cyclability and perceived bikeability in urban areas, with an application to the city of Milan, Italy, focusing on cycling toward the urban university campuses of Politecnico di Milano. Despite the increasing emphasis on sustainable urban mobility, research gaps remain in optimizing cycling infrastructure development based on both observable factors (e.g., availability and quality of cycleways) and latent factors (e.g., cyclists’ perceived safety and security). The objective of this study is to address these gaps by developing a DSS, based on a macroscopic multimodal transport simulation model, to facilitate an in-depth analysis and prioritization of cycling transport policies. Findings from the DSS simulations indicate that strategic enhancements to cycling infrastructure can shift user preferences toward safer and more dedicated cycling routes, despite potential increases in travel time and distance. This paper concludes that implementing a DSS not only supports more informed policymaking but also encourages sustainable urban development by improving the overall cycling experience in cities, highlighting the importance of addressing both tangible and intangible factors in the design and prioritization of cycling infrastructure projects.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su16188188

Authors: Fulvio Silvestri, Seyed Hesam Babaei, Pierluigi Coppola

Institution: Politecnico di Milano

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,728