Is the widespread use of urban land for cycling promotion policies cost effective? A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the case of Seville. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brey, Raúl; Castillo-Manzano, José I.; Castro-Nuño, Mercedes; López-Valpuesta, Lourdes; Marchena-Gómez, Manuel; Sánchez-Braza, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 63(2017)
• Page Start: 130
• Page End: 139
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: R41 -- R53 -- L92 -- L98; Sustainable urban transportation -- Cost-benefit analysis -- Bicycle promotion policy -- Seville -- Cycling infrastructure investments; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.01.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: We perform a CBA to evaluate economic-social returns of public investment in cycling. Seville has recently transformed its urban mobility model into a sustainable system. A mean journey time saving of 1.98 € obtained by switching from car/bus to bicycle. Bicycle network construction achieved a CNV of 557 million € and an IRR of over 130%. Results raise awareness of the social benefits of intensive land used related to cycling promotion policies. Abstract: Cycling promotion has without doubt been the most intensive policy seen in Seville in the 21 st century as far as the use of public land is concerned. In the current context, economic tools need to be applied to rigorously assess the efficiency and economic rationality of cycling infrastructure investments. This article provides a Cost-Benefit Analysis to estimate the economic and social returns on investments from the construction of a bicycle lane network in the city of Seville (Spain). This kind of studies tries to contribute to mitigating the degree of conflict associated with a land policy that breaks with the traditional status quo. The case study is especially relevant due to the successful public policy implemented in recent years to transform the Seville's urban mobility model into a sustainable system. Based on fieldwork with two survey campaigns conducted among the different cyclist profiles (private bicycle users and public bicycle sharing system users), we analyze two major effects: modal change and changes in journey time. Our robust findings, subjected to a sensitivity analysis, point to the remarkable economic benefits of the bicycle promotion policy in Seville, with significant savings in travel times, vehicle use and infrastructure maintenance, health, traffic accidents, and air pollution for both cyclists and society as a whole.