Measuring perceived or objective cyclability or bikeability has drawn less attention compared to walkability, particularly in developing countries like those in South Asia and the Middle East. Also, the determinants of cycling behavior are less studied in a wide range of developing countries. Despite having many advantages of cycling in pursuit of achieving the sustainable transport objectives, the important question remains how to efficiently promote cycling as a preferred mode choice for commuting. Not entirely known is also the role of cycling related factors on the people’s travel choices. It is necessary to have a clear understanding of the factors that influence the bicycle commuting, particularly in the context of developing world. This study is investigating the cyclability related aspects in Lahore, Pakistan, focusing on human perceptions rather than the built environment. The case study area, i.e. Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan situated in the province of Punjab and has a population size of around 11.13 million. The study particularly aims at exploring the relation between socioeconomic status of the residents and the inclination towards cycling as a preferred mode choice. It will provide primary data covering many of the cycling related aspects to assess the potentials and constraints for cyclability in the developing world. Further, the study will statistically analyse the differences and similarities of decisions and perceptions about biking compared to high-income and European countries. The findings of the study will assist the relevant government organization to better understand the dynamics related to cycleability in order to devise cycling friendly policies in the developing countries.
Team
Dr.-Ing. Houshmand E. Masoumi1
Dr.-Ing. S. Atif Bilal Aslam2
Dr. Muhammad Asim2
Dr. Izza Anwer3
1Center for Technology and Society, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
2Department of City and Regional Planning, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Pakistan
3Department of Transportation Engineering and Management, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Pakistan