Localised Perceptions of Large-Scale Active Transport Infrastructure: Resident Attitudes Towards Pedestrian and Cyclist-Only Bridges on the Gold Coast, Australia

ABSTRACT

Large-scale active transport infrastructure is essential to connect walking and cycling networks severed by physical impediments (e.g. waterways and motorways). Yet, implementations in car-centric urban areas have experienced localised ‘bikelash’ and Not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) resistance. Our mixed-method, cross-sectional study from the Gold Coast, Australia, identified positive sentiments towards green bridge implementations within the broader urban area. However, support for future bridge implementations decreased with proximity to respondents’ homes. State and local governments planning new facilities must account for this geographical discounting effect, where residents want to reside near active transport infrastructure to derive benefit from them, but not too close.

摘要

大规模主动交通基础设施对于连接被物理障碍（如水路和高速公路）切断的步行和自行车网络至关重要。然而，在以汽车为中心的城市地区实施时，却遭遇了“自行车非难”和“不在我家后院”（NIMBY）阻力。本研究在澳大利亚黄金海岸开展的混合方法横断面研究发现，在更广泛的城市区域内，人们对绿色桥梁的实施持积极态度。然而，随着受访者的住家距离越来越近，对未来桥梁建设的支持率也越来越低。州政府和地方政府在规划新设施时必须考虑到这一地理折扣效应，即居民希望居住在主动交通基础设施附近以便从中受益，但又不希望太近。

KEYWORDS:

• Active transport
• pedestrian infrastructure
• cycling infrastructure
• resident attitudes
• community sentiment
• green bridges

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Note, the 2021 Australian census only reported travel data for “Method of travel to work”. Commuter trips considered all work-related trips by physical transport mode and counted all undertaken by car as both driver and passenger. Totals excluded those who indicated they worked from home or did not go to work.

2 Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, researchers conducted interviews over the phone or via video call using Microsoft Team software.

3 Usage: 1 = Never; 2 = Once a year or more; 3 = Once a month or more; 4 = Once a week or more; 5; Once a day or more.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the City of Gold Coast Council under the Academic Research Agreement [Council of the City of Gold Coast HDR Top up].