Car-centric regional cities must transform into sustainable environments that can withstand population decline. Cycling is gaining interest as a sustainable transportation mode due to its social, economic, and environmental benefits, particularly in budget-constrained regional cities in Japan. However, Japan's cycling policies are ineffective in promoting cycling. In contrast, European cities prioritize bicycles as a form of inclusive mobility, integrating cycling policies into urban transportation planning. A literature review indicates that effective European cycling policies encompass both infrastructure and perception aspects.
　This study aims to propose a bicycle-oriented urban transformation strategy based on research and analysis of a regional city through the framework of European cycling policy. Shizuoka City is chosen as a case study due to its high cycling modal split. Multi-layer analysis reveals the potential for cycling to become a primary mode of transportation in future urban structures. However, existing bike infrastructures focus on long inter-city trips and do not meet the needs of current cyclists.
　Focused research in the Ando and Kita-ando districts, areas with high bicycle modal splits, identified various groups based on daily transportation modes, each with distinct reasons for choosing cycling. This suggests that cycling promotion should consider not only environmental factors but also human factors, such as life stages. Additionally, the survey highlighted that a safe and direct neighborhood network is crucial for cycling, while the discontinuity of local networks remains a challenge.
　 Interviews with local residents regarding future bicycle infrastructure design indicate that phased development at the neighborhood level is effective, and changing residents' perceptions of cycling is essential for successful promotion.
　Based on these findings, a phased strategy focusing on infrastructure development and enhancing cyclability perception is proposed to promote bicycle-oriented urban transformation in regional cities.