Among the factors that affect cyclability are:
Safety The safety of cycle paths is a requirement for high cyclability: • The safest roads are those that are segregated from motorized traffic (
bike lanes), followed by
shared paths and, finally,
lanes shared with other vehicles. • The width of cycle paths should be wide enough for two bikes to cross or pass each other safely. • The visibility of the road must make it possible to anticipate possible
braking and
intersections, avoiding curves at right angles. •
Intersections must, in turn, be well marked for both cyclists and motorized traffic. • The routes must avoid obstacles, such as
lampposts or
benches. Also prevent carrying the bike, such as on stairs, in which case
bicycle ramps can be incorporated. • The pavement must be smooth, with lowered obstacles such as
curbs, with materials that do not offer too much resistance, that drain and are not slippery when it rains.
Coherence A coherent cycling network implies: • The cycle paths must cover the entire extension of the city, so that the bicycle can be used to go to as many destinations as possible. Ideally, there should be a cycle path within 250 meters of any point in the city. • They have to be connected to each other continuously. • There must be secure
bicycle parkings both at the origin and at the destination of the routes. • The design of cycle paths must be uniform, so that all citizens can quickly perceive the use of that path, avoiding conflicts. • The routes must be correctly signposted, including the destinations offered by each of the routes.
Directness Bicycles are driven by people's
physical exercise, therefore, a highly cyclable cycling network must allow direct movement without great effort: • The routes between origins and destinations can be made in the most linear way possible, without the need to make large deviations. • The cycle paths should go through the main streets, as they are usually the ones that host the majority of shops and services. • They should avoid or minimize
slopes. • Reduce the number of stops such as
traffic lights or intersections, which require greater physical effort. This may included
Idaho stop,
dead red, or
red-light-as-yield traffic laws. == Cyclability indicators ==