Cycling provision separated from motor traffic: a systematic review exploring whether stated preferences vary by gender and age

This paper provides a systematic review of studies examining the extent to which cycle infrastructure preferences vary by gender and by age. A search of online, English-language academic and policy literature was followed by a three-stage screening process to identify relevant studies.

The researchers found that women reported stronger preferences than men for greater separation from motor traffic. There was weaker evidence of stronger preferences among older people.

Differences in preferences were quantitative rather than qualitative; that is, preferences for separated infrastructure were stronger in some groups than in others, but no group preferred integration with motor traffic.

Thus, in low-cycling countries seeking to increase cycling, this evidence suggests focusing on the stronger preferences of under-represented groups as a necessary element of universal design for cycling.