Work

Effects of building cycling infrastructure on bicycle use: Differences by gender through a longitudinal natural experiment study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cycling as a mode of urban transportation is considerably more prevalent among men than women in many countries. One factor contributing to this gap is the perception of safety associated with cycling, particularly due to the lack of secure infrastructure. This study investigated the effect of constructing cycling infrastructure, specifically segregated bike lanes, on bicycle usage, with particular emphasis on gender discrepancies. Using data from Strava Metro, we analysed the change in bicycle usage in Valencia over a four-year period, both before and after the introduction of the new segregated bike lanes. The findings revealed a notable increase in the utilisation of segregated lanes, with a more significant impact observed among women than among men. The construction of this infrastructure appeared to influence a tangible increase in bicycle usage among women. These results underscore the importance of investing in a segregated cycling infrastructure to promote active transportation and mitigate gender disparities in bicycle usage.

Source: Research in Transportation Economics

DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2025.101531

Authors: Maite Pellicer-Chenoll, Laura Antón-González, Israel Villarrasa-Sapiña, Jose Devís-Devís, Luis-Millán González, Miquel Pans

Institution: Universitat de València

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,430