Beyond cyclists: Understanding support for and opposition to cycling infrastructure development

Source abstract

ABSTRACT As cities expand their cycling infrastructure, resistance to reallocating road space remains a major challenge for policymakers. This study, examines the factors shaping public support and opposition to cycling infrastructure expansion, focusing on the trade-off between car space and protected bicycle infrastructure. Using survey data collected in 2023 from 1050 residents of Montreal, Canada, we analyze the role of sociodemographic factors, built environment characteristics, car habit, social influence, cycling-related residential preferences, and bicycle stage-of-change (B-SoC), along with perceptions of cycling’s societal benefits. B-SoC is used here as a proxy for individuals’ current cycling practice and intention to start cycling for transport. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), we reveal that support for bicycle lane expansion cannot be reduced to a simple cyclist versus non-cyclist distinction. Instead, support emerges through a complex interaction between the investigated constructs. Preference for living in a cycling-friendly neighbourhood is the strongest predictor of support, followed by collective benefits while stronger car habits and worries about the impacts of cycling infrastructure are associated with lower support. The results also show that support for cycling infrastructure is not distributed linearly across cycling stages: some non-cyclists support cycling infrastructure, while some regular cyclists oppose additional infrastructure expansion. Furthermore, the effect of cycling behaviour and intention (B-SoC) on support for cycling infrastructure operates indirectly through residential preferences and perceived collective impacts of cycling. Among those impacts, environmental and health benefits of cycling, although broadly recognized, do not significantly predict support once other factors are controlled for, while beliefs in lesser-known benefits such as safer streets, lower transportation costs, and greater autonomy for children show a positive association. These findings suggest that policies and communication strategies emphasizing practical and locally experienced benefits, while addressing concerns and uncertainty about infrastructure impacts, may be more effective in building public support for cycling infrastructure expansion.