The influence of design and socio-psychological features on bicycle use in the city of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy)

This study aims to identify those environmental features that could influence the perception of safety and comfort, and subsequently the behavioral intention, from the perspective of a bike user. Participants, whose recruitment starts in January 2024, will be residents of Cagliari. Referring to the evidence on the effects of green spaces, affordances, social norms, and proenvironmental values, an online questionnaire was set up, including a set of pictures that depict a real road in the city of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy). Each picture presents a combination of levels of different attributes, i.e. presence/absence of trees or public transportation infrastructure, density of cars or bicycles (high vs. low). For each picture, respondents are asked to indicate their comfort, safety, and pleasantness in experiencing the road by bike. Then, there are items on social norms and intention to use the bicycle on the most and least preferred picture. At the end of the survey, biospheric values and bicycle use behavior are detected. Research outcomes should provide useful information for the urban planners, in relation to which design and socio-psychological elements could increase the proportion of citizens who use the bicycle (instead of their own car) for different mobility goals, understanding which attitudes and perceptions related to urban environments, with the goal of contributing to urban design and development practices oriented toward the bio-psycho-social well-being of individuals and sustainability.