Review of the Cycling Network Planning and Design in Chinese Cold-Climate Cities

Xiaoxi Cai,Yulong Pei

doi:10.1109/access.2021.3056523

Xiaoxi Cai, Yulong Pei

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3056523

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Abstract

Bicycle use is an important measure to promote energy saving in the urban transportation field and reduce the environmental deterioration caused by motorized vehicle development in both warm- and cold-climate cities. However, the severe winter climate makes it harder to set up bicycle lanes in cold-climate cities than in other cities. Considering international and Chinese practice, this article analyzes bicycle travel characteristics in cold-climate cities, summarizes bicycle development patterns and proposes corresponding development strategies. The paper reviews the research status of cycling network planning and design in cold-climate cities in China and worldwide and summarizes the relevant methods that can be used in China. The results showed that compared with other seasons, in winter, the bicycle share rate of Chinese cold-climate cities decreases significantly, and the larger the temperature difference is, the greater the decrease is. In addition, the bicycle traffic flow is volatile and does not strictly maintain a regular straight line. It is necessary to select bicycle traffic development patterns and formulate corresponding strategies according to bicycle travel characteristics. Temperature and wind are two climatic factors that need special attention when planning cycling networks in cold-climate cities. The consideration of solar radiation and electric bicycles is beneficial for optimizing the design of bicycle lane width in cold-climate cities. Isolation forms can be selected according to the bicycle development patterns. The pavement materials, maintenance technology and colored bicycle lanes with anti-freezing function are very important to improve the comfort and safety of bicycle lanes.

Highlights

The term cold-climate city refers to a special group of urban areas distributed in the Northern Hemisphere
Some scholars have suggested that when the road service level in winter is relatively high, unaffected by the climate, the bicycle lanes can be used as spaces for temporary snow clearing to reduce the interference of snowdrifts and snow clearing work on pedestrians and motor vehicles [95] or for creating cultural landscapes, such as ice lamps or snow sculptures, to make a seasonal supplement to the travel environment, gradually develop tourism resources, and create a positive image of winter cities [96]
In cold-climate cities, the difference from traditional thinking is that when conducting bicycle traffic surveys and demand forecasting, the travel characteristics and travel demand in winter and in other seasons should be considered separately for determination of bicycle development patterns

Summary

Introduction

According to the above analysis, the existing studies in China and abroad have pointed out that cold-climate city residents’ choice of travel mode in winter differs from their choice in other seasons, and the bicycle utilization rate drops sharply, with lower temperature leading to a greater decline. The research perspectives in China and in other countries are different, it is basically agreed that the provision of more and better bicycle lanes and bicycle support policies is the most effective strategy for cold-climate cities to achieve the Copenhagen or Paris pattern [86].

Results

Conclusion