A behavioural assessment of urban residents toward cycling in Nigeria: A bicycle level of service approach
12/09/2025 , De Brug Area 1

An understanding of the bicycle level of service (BLOS) in urban mobility can be useful in developing planning strategies for the promotion of cycling commuting in a safe and healthy urban environment. This study will offer a cycling infrastructure audit by analyzing perceptions of residents to ascertain level of performance of basic bicycle infrastructure in selected Nigerian cities. Participants of this study will be drawn through a multi-stage sampling technique to evaluate their level of satisfaction on basic urban cycling infrastructure, based on knowledge of their city. Geometric, physical and operational characteristics of different road network, walkways and trails will be assessed using a 6-point Likert scale A-F (corresponding to highly satisfied-highly dissatisfied). Other variables for assessment will include (but not limited to) side path separation, vehicle speed, motorized traffic volume and conflicts with other road users. Furthermore, pedestrian lane width, wide outside lane, pavement conditions, trees and benches, daylight, gender and age of participants will be critical for the BLOS estimation. Ordered probability models will then be used to estimate random parameters of bicycle LOS perception to account for unobserved heterogeneity for all respondents. A non-motorized transport policy formulation will be advocated for Nigeria, among specific recommendations that will be based on study findings.

I work as a professor of urban and regional development planning, urban transportation system, geographical information systems and remote sensing in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria. I am also a visiting professor in Urban Cycling Institute, the Netherlands.