Examining the Associations between Visual and Non-Visual Elements and Cyclists' Route Choices for Various Trip Purposes
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Summary
The authors studied what cyclists like about their routes in Montreal by looking at both what they see while riding (visual factors) and less obvious things like neighborhood income or traffic levels (non-visual factors). They compared the shortest possible routes to the actual routes cyclists took and found that things like more trees and fewer cars made rides more appealing. Their work helps city planners understand what makes cycling more enjoyable and could guide better bike-friendly street designs.
Authors
Heyang Hua, Koichi Ito, Filip Biljecki
Abstract
Understanding cyclist preferences for the characteristics of the built environment is important in promoting sustainable urban transportation and active mobility. Despite previous studies on cyclists' route choices, the influence of visual and non-visual factors on these choices for different trip purposes remains unclear; thus, this paper fills this gap through a data-driven case study in Montreal, Canada. Non-visual factors include socioeconomic factors and two-dimensional environments, while visual factors involve visual perception during cycling and are computed using street view images. The study consists of two parts: one part analyzes spatiotemporal information to explore the non-visual factors between the start and end points of cycling trips, and the other part investigates the discrepancies in distributions of these factors between the shortest path and the actual one. The findings reveal the spatiotemporal characteristics that influence active riding choices, such as increased greenery and lower levels of motorization. These insights can inform the planning of street networks and the development of infrastructure to improve the use of active transportation.