Do new urban and suburban cycling facilities encourage more bicycling?

Abstract

• Bicycling rates increased across study sites regardless of the presence of a cycling facility. • A new cycling facility increased the odds of bicycling more on the street. • New facilities were associated with increased commute-related bicycling only for regular cyclists. • Mode-substitution was more likely near a new cycle track vs. a painted bicycle lane. • Urban vs. suburban location was associated with more cycling on street, but not with mode substitution. Cycling facilities have become a widely used sustainable transportation policy tool, but their impacts on reduced car dependence are difficult to isolate. This paper presents the findings from a household survey conducted in 17 neighbourhoods in the Toronto region, Canada, some with a recently built cycling facility and some without. Results indicate higher odds of increased commute-related bicycling on streets with a new cycling facility. People who were already commuting by bicycle at least once a week are likely to bicycle more frequently after new facilities are built. Bicycling uptake is more obvious in neighbourhhods with a new cycle track, while changes relating to bicycle lanes were not statistically different from neighbourhoods without a facility. All else being equal, urban cycling facilities were associated with higher odds of increased commute-related bicycling, compared to suburban locations. Findings offer insights into expected outcomes of bicycle network expansion policy/projects.