Cycling infrastructure and sustainable mobility in intermediate cities technical and functional evaluation of an alternative for an urban corridor
Introduction: This article is the result of the research project “Cycling Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility in Intermediate Cities: Technical and Functional Evaluation of an Alternative for an Urban Corridor”, conducted at Universidad Santo Tomás in 2026, aimed at evaluating the implementation of bidirectional cycling infrastructure within an urban corridor in Villavicencio, Colombia.
Problem: The corridor currently lacks adequate cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, generating conflicts between motorized and non-motorized users and reducing safety and accessibility.
Objective: The objective of this research is to evaluate the technical and functional feasibility of implementing a bidirectional sidewalk bicycle lane within the study corridor.
Methodology: The study integrated vehicular, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic counts, roadway inspections, citizen perception surveys, street plans, and mobility simulations using PTV Vissim to compare current and proposed operational scenarios.
Results: The analyses identified favorable territorial and operational conditions for implementing cycling infrastructure. Ninety-six percent of respondents supported the implementation of a bidirectional bicycle lane, 81% expressed willingness to use it, and 94% considered the corridor unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. PTV Vissim simulations reported an average operating speed of 19.23 km/h, an average delay of 36.11 s, and bicycle lane occupancy rates ranging from 1.05% to 1.14%.
Conclusion: The proposed bidirectional bicycle lane represents a technically viable alternative for improving active mobility along the study corridor while maintaining stable operational conditions and supporting the sustainable mobility objectives established for the city.
Originality: The study integrates roadway diagnosis, citizen perception, and traffic simulation to evaluate cycling infrastructure in Villavicencio.
Limitations: The research was constrained by geometric restrictions and limited roadway information in certain sections of the corridor.
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