Automated Detection of Missing Links in Bicycle Networks

Abstract

Cycling is an effective solution for making urban transport more sustainable. However, bicycle networks are typically developed in a slow, piecewise process that leaves open a large number of gaps, even in well developed cycling cities like Copenhagen. Here, we develop the IPDC procedure (Identify, Prioritize, Decluster, Classify) for finding the most important missing links in urban bicycle networks, using data from OpenStreetMap. In this procedure we first identify all possible gaps following a multiplex network approach, prioritize them according to a flow-based metric, decluster emerging gap clusters, and manually classify the types of gaps. We apply the IPDC procedure to Copenhagen and report the 105 top priority gaps. For evaluation, we compare these gaps with the city's most recent Cycle Path Prioritization Plan and find considerable overlaps. Our results show how network analysis with minimal data requirements can serve as a cost-efficient support tool for bicycle network planning. By taking into account the whole city network for consolidating urban bicycle infrastructure, our data-driven framework can complement localized, manual planning processes for more effective, city-wide decision-making.

29 pages, 12 figures + supplementary material. Geographical Analysis (2022): Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue

References in corpus (4)

• Multimodal urban mobility and multilayer transport networks
• Growing Urban Bicycle Networks
• Extracting the multimodal fingerprint of urban transportation networks
• A Road Segment Prioritization Approach for Cycling Infrastructure

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Multimodal urban mobility and multilayer transport networks
• Growing Urban Bicycle Networks
• BikeDNA: A Tool for Bicycle Infrastructure Data & Network Assessment
• Cohesive urban bicycle infrastructure design through optimal transport routing in multilayer networks
• How Good Is Open Bicycle Infrastructure Data? A Countrywide Case Study of Denmark
• Robust design of bicycle infrastructure networks
• Active-travel modelling: a methodological approach to networks for walking and cycling commuting analysis
• Network analysis of the Danish bicycle infrastructure: Bikeability across urban-rural divides