Development of Cycling Infrastructure in the Context of Functioning of Urban Bicycle-Sharing System – Case Study of Cracow and Lublin

Abstract

The objective of the paper is to determine the dynamics of development of urban cycling infrastructure in the context of development of bicycle-sharing systems based on the case study of Cracow and Lublin. The study particularly refers to the comparison of provisions of strategic documents with the implementation of cycling infrastructure in the years 2010–2019. It also presents, in a comprehensive way, the development of bicycle-sharing systems, and discusses the activity of informal groups and cycling organizations in both cities. The study evidenced that the expansion the infrastructure is delayed towards the provisions of strategic-programming documents, and its network is still incoherent, primarily as a result of the dispersal in urban spaces of road investments accompanied by cycling infrastructure investments. It has no effect on the development of bicycle-sharing systems, constituting a good supplementation of cycling infrastructure, as confirmed by correlation analyses. The number and location of stations, however, depend on the activities of the operator, stimulated mainly by top-bottom (Cracow) or bottom-up (Lublin) initiatives. The use of bicycle-sharing system was primarily determined by the continuity of functioning of the operator and rental cost. Despite differences in terms of the dynamics of conducted measures, the activity of cycling organizations, their spectrum, and rules of financing have an effect on both the popularisation of cycling as a means of transport, and the expansion of cycling infrastructure and bicycle-sharing systems. The best effects were obtained for the activities of the Lublin cycling ecosystem.