Influence of Cycling Infrastructure on the Transformations of Public Spaces in Cities and Agglomerations

Abstract

The aim of the article is presentation of influence of cycling infrastructure on the diversity of transformations in public spaces in cities and agglomerations. Transformation of street sections make changes in the organization of traffic and the transport service system of the area. As a rule, cycling and heavy vehicles are separated. In some situations, it is necessary to transfer some of the traffic or parking of the cars to the neighbouring streets. New cycling infrastructure in the street section at intersections and interchanges causes transformation in the division of the street public area, implementation of linear or point development and often the necessity of implementation of traffic lights. The cycling infrastructure in the traffic calming zones make changes in the division of the street public space and the implementation of physical impediments to reduce speed of traffic - these restrictions should not apply to bicycle traffic. In sections streets between the junctions, the implementation of cycling infrastructure into a street cross-section causes changes in the division of the street cross-section, taking into account the priorities and horizontal and vertical segregation of bicycle traffic from other road users and the functional and elevation shape of the terrain between the boundary lines and the carriageway. Roads and bicycles parking may be one elements of the interior design of streets and squares and the aspect of their urban and architectural shaping should be given special attention. Impacts of cycling infrastructure into transformation of public spaces will be present on selected examples from Polish towns and agglomerations (Warsaw, Lublin, Kutno and Tomaszow Mazowiecki).