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

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.