Planning for cycling in a growing megacity: Exploring planners' perceptions and shared values: Fid-Bau Portal

Planning for cycling in a growing megacity: Exploring planners' perceptions and shared values

Wang, Luqi

Abstract Cycling has long been marginalized in Chinese modern transport planning. With increasing attention being paid to cycling in recent years, it is important to have a better understanding of how local planners make practical judgments for cycling and the underlying considerations. This study examines practicing planners' perceptions and shared values of bicycle planning in Wuhan, a growing Chinese city. An exploratory sequential study design was employed by combining in-depth interviews and a questionnaire survey. A theoretical framework, the culturized planning model, was applied to guide the exploration of the planners' perceptions and shared values. The results indicate that planners generally have a positive attitude towards cycling, particularly regarding environmental and health benefits. They think a suitable role of cycling in commuting is to solve the first and last mile problem by complementing public transport, rather than cycling alone. Most planners are not satisfied with existing cycling conditions; however, they can only improve the cycling infrastructure selectively in a project-oriented way. A variety of challenges of improving the cycling condition are identified. In the changing and growing context, informal rules often play a role in planners' judgment-making.

Highlights • This study explored urban planners' opinions on cycling and bicycle planning in Wuhan, China. • Planners have positive perceptions of cycling but doubts about bicycle commuting. • Planners are inclined to consider bicycle transport as a complement to public transport. • Cycling infrastructure is improved selectively in a project-oriented way. • Planners face a variety of challenges, and informal rules play a role in making judgments.