A study conducted by the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (FCAFE) has shown that bicycle use in Valencia has significantly increased between 2018 and 2022—by up to five times in some sections. The percentage increase has been greater among women than men, with women using the new bike lanes 2.44 times more than men. The study, published in the journal Research in Transportation Economics, was carried out in collaboration with the well-known application STRAVA, which incorporates tools for monitoring physical activity in cycling and hiking.
The increase in cycling activity in Valencia during this period has been analysed based on the existing bike lane network in 2018, which consisted of 442 sections, and the 33 new sections built between then and 2022. In 2018, the estimated average was 12.5 people per segment per day, rising to 25.9 in 2022—more than double.
Regarding how the new segregated bike lanes have influenced bicycle use by gender, there has been a noticeable increase in female cyclists in the city centre, the Turia River Gardens (which run west-east through the city) and the maritime façade (eastern part of the city). In some sections, this increase has been up to fivefold, while in 21 of the 33 new segregated sections in 2022, the average use exceeded the peak levels recorded in 2018.
Maite Pellicer-Chenoll, the study's lead author and researcher at FCAFE, explains: “The results show that the construction of segregated bike lanes not only increases overall bicycle use but also significantly reduces the gender gap in urban cycling mobility. This demonstrates that investing in safe cycling infrastructure is a key factor in fostering more inclusive and sustainable cities”.
Miquel Pans, co-author of the study and also a researcher at FCAFE, highlights that Valencia “is a benchmark for sustainable mobility thanks to its commitment to cycling infrastructure. And honestly, we would not want to see any steps backwards. The evidence we have gathered indicates that these changes not only benefit active transport and public health but also promote gender equity by encouraging more women to use bicycles as a daily mode of transport”.
This study was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana [GVPROMETEO2021-026] as part of the project Transport sostenible a València: anàlisi socioambiental, urbanística i de salut del servei ‘Valenbisi’ (Sustainable Transport in Valencia: Socio-environmental, Urban Planning and Health Analysis of the ‘Valenbisi’ Service), and received collaboration from the STRAVA application and the Generalitat Valenciana through the Chair of Women and Sport.
Article reference:
Maite Pellicer-Chenoll et al. “Effects of building cycling infrastructure on bicycle use: Differences by gender through a longitudinal natural experiment study”. Research in Transportation Economics, Volume 110, 2025, 101531. ISSN 0739-8859. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2025.101531
