Quality assessment of a country-wide bicycle node network with loop census analysis

Abstract

Bicycle node networks are regional bicycle networks equipped with a wayfinding system of numbered nodes to ease recreational cycling. They spur sustainable bicycle tourism, economic spending, and local culture. Due to their country-wide scale, implementing bicycle node networks is a considerable effort and investment. Despite this investment, planning is a manual ad-hoc process that follows general design principles, but without clear performance metrics that account for the human cycling experience. Here we analyze a 28,215 km long bicycle node network spanning Denmark, developing and studying such metrics. First, a spatial analysis of geometric and topological properties reveals high heterogeneity and local clusters of node density, face loop lengths, gradients, and feature-rich areas. Next, taking the perspective of a recreational cyclist starting at any node on the network, we create a loop census that lists all loops in the network up to day-trip length. The loop census identifies the feasible points on the network from which to take a day trip and quantifies the number of round trip choices, unveiling different levels of choice depending on the considered demographic group. While long-range cyclists can access most of the country with often overabundant choices, cyclists with stronger length and gradient limitations like families with small children can not - which could be overcome by e-bikes. Our open-source analysis methods provide data-driven decision support for bicycle node network planning with the potential to boost the development of rural cycling and cycling tourism.