Data-mining, GIS and multicriteria analysis in a comprehensive method for bicycle network planning and design

In many Brazilian cities, the most common procedure for planning cycling networks is using aggregated population data in census tracts, which may not take into account the true origin and destination of trips. It may also not identify potential users of a particular mode of transport. This is particularly important considering that implementing cycling infrastructures should be based on the assumption that they are able to meet the users' needs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop and adopt an objective method to design and compare cycling networks based on data-mining of disaggregated origin-destination data, GIS resources, and multicriteria analysis techniques. The method follows three steps: 1) identifying potential users based on real user profiles, 2) designing proposed cycling networks and 3) a comparison between the networks proposed in this study and those developed by the municipality selected as a case study, considering real and potential users, as well as cost and benefit criteria. As a positive outcome, using disaggregated data allows for a reasonable estimate of the number of people served by the networks, a detailed analysis of their proximity to the infrastructure, as well as identifying potential users. Comparing cycling networks considering cost and benefit criteria shows that the chosen criteria were effective. It was also determined that the cycling network of the studied city poorly serves bicycle transport users, if compared to the proposed networks. These findings indicate that appropriate methods for planning cycling networks are still needed.