[A survey on the condition of bike lanes in 12 cities, China].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the condition on bike lanes and the relationship with GDP of the related cities, residential of regions and prosperity of streets in 12 selected cities in China. METHODS: Eexistence and maintenance of bike lanes were examinedin in all the streets under survey in 333 blocks of 12 cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Suzhou, Nantong, Zhenjiang, Chengdu, Xining and Harbin). Data were collected on GDP of the related cities, together with the sizes of population and proportion of the 333 blocksand the numbers of stores and restaurants in those streets. RESULTS: A total of 4 202 streets were included in the study. In the 12 cities, 32.6% of the streets were equipped with bike lanes. Bike-lane-equipmentsseemed better in Nantong (46.5%), Tianjin (39.6%) and Shanghai (39.4%), but the scores were lower in Xining (2.0%), Qingdao (5.4%), and Harbin (27.1%). The higher GDP was, the better bike lanes were equipped. In the meantime, the isolation of bike lanes were worse and the streets more crowded. Density of the residential area was negatively correlated with the score on bike lane-equipments. CONCLUSION: Differences of the condition of bike lanes in the 12 cities indicated that improvement should be made on bike lanes. More attention should be paid to those cities with high GDPs and crowded residential regions on setting up the isolated bike lanes and reasonable equipments.