A GIS-BASED MULTI CRITERIA APPROACH FOR THE DESIGN OF A CYCLING NETWORK IN THE CITY OF CATANIA

Cycling mobility is a widespread mode of travel around Europe, in particular in countries with a high level of well-being. Italy takes realistic distances from these standards. the cities of the peninsula do not support the comparison with European models; in particular, the city of Catania, although in possession of some cycling tracks and promiscuous routes, still does not have a cycling network, since existing paths are not connected to each other. Even if literature on cycling and its planning is spreading, there is still poor research on decision making processes to prioritize and choose locations for investing in cycling infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to provide a multi criteria approach for the design of a cycling network, based on the use of Geographic Information System, in the context of a middle size city. The main objectives are the introduction of a methodology that allows to design a cycling network through the support of a GIS software; the characterization, through this methodology, of a road network based on a set of evaluation criteria that will determine the degree of cycling compatibility of each road segment; the assessment of the adequacy of the road paths for the realization of a cycling track. The GIS-based vector-model includes readily-available data sources in an easily interpretable graphical format suitable for decision-makers and the public and it aims at supporting bicycle facility prioritization and location.