How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of Paris

In recent years, cycling has received notable investments in response to the urge to decarbonize the transportation sector, leading to an increase in its modal share in many territories. The present article presents a longitudinal study that evaluates the impact of various public policies on bicycle...

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Main Authors: Alexandre Lanvin, Jean Charléty, Guillaume Ferreol, Anatole Homann, Elliot Massey, Alix Vermeulen, Alexandre Chasse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950105925000257
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author Alexandre Lanvin
Jean Charléty
Guillaume Ferreol
Anatole Homann
Elliot Massey
Alix Vermeulen
Alexandre Chasse
author_facet Alexandre Lanvin
Jean Charléty
Guillaume Ferreol
Anatole Homann
Elliot Massey
Alix Vermeulen
Alexandre Chasse
author_sort Alexandre Lanvin
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, cycling has received notable investments in response to the urge to decarbonize the transportation sector, leading to an increase in its modal share in many territories. The present article presents a longitudinal study that evaluates the impact of various public policies on bicycle growth in Paris over the period 2018–2023. Variables of interest can be classified according to five themes: targeted cycling policies, restrictions imposed on motorized vehicles, disruptions on other modes of transport, livability policies, and economic conditions. The methodology is based on dependence-aware sensitivity analysis techniques to assess the separate contributions of each of these variables on bicycle traffic, aggregated at the city scale, and extracted from ground counter data. In order to be exhaustive, variations due to weather and calendar dynamics are also controlled for. Results indicate that local authorities should primarily focus on the development of bicycle infrastructure, including bicycle lanes, parking slots, and effective bicycle-sharing systems. While these measures are instrumental, sustainable growth relies on the implementation of a diverse range of policies. Bicycle usage can be further expanded by making it more attractive, specifically through the creation of pedestrian zones and green spaces, or the promotion of e-bikes. Additionally, cycling tends to increase as car usage becomes more difficult, although this finding calls for equity considerations.
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series Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research
spelling doaj-art-881d7a879a024a78864dafb7ef78dad82025-08-24T05:15:40ZengElsevierJournal of Cycling and Micromobility Research2950-10592025-09-01510008110.1016/j.jcmr.2025.100081How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of ParisAlexandre Lanvin0Jean Charléty1Guillaume Ferreol2Anatole Homann3Elliot Massey4Alix Vermeulen5Alexandre Chasse6Department of Control, Signal and System, IFP Energies Nouvelles, 1 et 4 avenue de Bois-Préau, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison, France; Corresponding author.Department of Control, Signal and System, IFP Energies Nouvelles, 1 et 4 avenue de Bois-Préau, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison, FranceESSEC Business School, 95000, Cergy, France; CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceESSEC Business School, 95000, Cergy, France; CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceESSEC Business School, 95000, Cergy, France; CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceESSEC Business School, 95000, Cergy, France; CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceDepartment of Control, Signal and System, IFP Energies Nouvelles, 1 et 4 avenue de Bois-Préau, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison, FranceIn recent years, cycling has received notable investments in response to the urge to decarbonize the transportation sector, leading to an increase in its modal share in many territories. The present article presents a longitudinal study that evaluates the impact of various public policies on bicycle growth in Paris over the period 2018–2023. Variables of interest can be classified according to five themes: targeted cycling policies, restrictions imposed on motorized vehicles, disruptions on other modes of transport, livability policies, and economic conditions. The methodology is based on dependence-aware sensitivity analysis techniques to assess the separate contributions of each of these variables on bicycle traffic, aggregated at the city scale, and extracted from ground counter data. In order to be exhaustive, variations due to weather and calendar dynamics are also controlled for. Results indicate that local authorities should primarily focus on the development of bicycle infrastructure, including bicycle lanes, parking slots, and effective bicycle-sharing systems. While these measures are instrumental, sustainable growth relies on the implementation of a diverse range of policies. Bicycle usage can be further expanded by making it more attractive, specifically through the creation of pedestrian zones and green spaces, or the promotion of e-bikes. Additionally, cycling tends to increase as car usage becomes more difficult, although this finding calls for equity considerations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950105925000257Bicycle trafficPublic policiesSensitivity analysisLongitudinal study
spellingShingle Alexandre Lanvin
Jean Charléty
Guillaume Ferreol
Anatole Homann
Elliot Massey
Alix Vermeulen
Alexandre Chasse
How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of Paris
Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research
Bicycle traffic
Public policies
Sensitivity analysis
Longitudinal study
title How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of Paris
title_full How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of Paris
title_fullStr How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of Paris
title_full_unstemmed How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of Paris
title_short How to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic? The case of Paris
title_sort how to create a sustainable growth in bicycle traffic the case of paris
topic Bicycle traffic
Public policies
Sensitivity analysis
Longitudinal study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950105925000257
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