Pedal Power: Investigating Cycling Infrastructure, Policy and Culture in Italian and German Cities - A Mixed-Methods Analysis

This thesis explores cycling as a key element of sustainable urban mobility, investigating cycling culture as the interplay of physical and social factors. A mixed-methods approach combines policy analysis, spatial infrastructure data and a self-conducted survey to investigate how cycling is enabled and experienced in four case study cities: Constance and Leipzig (Germany), and Turin and Treviso (Italy). Policy documents from European, national, and municipal levels are examined to assess strategic priorities. Cycling infrastructure data reveals spatial patterns in network coverage and quality. The survey captures user perceptions of cycling safety, infrastructure quality and connectivity, as well as cycling motivations and behaviours. Furthermore, the relationship between the survey respondents’ answers and their environmental awareness is investigated. The research aims to provide a holistic understanding of urban cycling culture in a transnational context, highlighting the importance of aligning policy, infrastructure and everyday user experiences.