Strategic Planning of Cycling Infrastructure Towards Sustainable City Mobility - Case Study Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Bicycle traffic, together with public transport, is one of the most significant sustainable forms of achieving acceptable levels of citizen mobility and sustainable development of cities. In recent decades many cities around the world have started to promote cycling as a way of urban transport. However, few have been able to integrate cycling as a relevant mode of transport in the urban transport system. The qualitative shift in relation to the existing situation and the achievement of the increase in quality of the transport system and transport infrastructure in the Republic of Croatia was made by adopting the new Strategy for transport development for the period 2017-2030. Eastern Croatia with its relief features has a potential for the realization and implementation of sustainable city mobility plans. Osijek, as regional centre of eastern Croatia, is the city with the most cycling trails in Croatia - up to 40 kilometres. This paper presents an overview of the thematic strategic documents on local level of the city of Osijek in eastern Croatia, with the aim of identifying the existence or non-existence of the principles promoted by SUMP (Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans). In the first step, the strategic documents will be reviewed and set goals will be outlined. These goals will be analysed according to the categories of the SUMP principles, ranging from lack of mentioning, then merely quoting, implementing or prescribing the principle implementation. This will identify the lack and the need for implementation at the strategic level. Further, the genesis of planning bicycle traffic in Osijek will be analysed, in the context of the objectives set for the Relevance of non-car modes of transport in SUMP. In the conclusion, a proposal will be made for the location of strategic goals and measures for improving the cycling infrastructure at the local level.