Residents' views on cyclist safety and cycling infrastructure in the City Municipality of Celje

Nastja Vodeb (Author), Kaja Prislan (Author)

Abstract

Purpose: The paper presents the results of two research studies analysing the views of different target populations on cyclist safety and the adequacy of preventive measures in Slovenia. The purpose of both research studies was to identify the shortcomings of different approaches to ensuring cyclist safety, evaluate the adequacy of planned solutions and propose some improvements of preventive actions taken by various stakeholders. Design/Methods/Approach: A field survey was conducted among the residents of the City Municipality of Celje (n = 171) on their satisfaction with cyclist safety, while an online survey was carried out among internet users (n = 210) on the usefulness of an alternative approach to raise cyclists’ awareness by digitising cycling routes and safety risks. Findings: Results show that respondents are generally not satisfied with cyclist safety, as most believe that municipal efforts are insufficient to ensure it. It was observed that cycling infrastructure needs to be properly regulated and that a positive traffic culture should be promoted at the municipal level, including through the promotion of preventive activities. Both internet users and local residents recognise a strong need to digitise cycle paths by indicating safety risks. Therefore, it would be reasonable to upgrade conventional approaches to raising public awareness by introducing solutions that are useful for cyclists. Research Limitations / Implications: The limitation of the research study arises from the fact that its results cannot be generalised to all municipalities, since they apply different approaches to ensuring cyclist safety due to their autonomy and are facing different safety risks. Moreover, due to the use of a non-random sample, caution is necessary when generalising research results. Practical Implications: The results of the presented studies are primarily useful to decision-makers and infrastructure managers at national and local level when planning changes and safety measures in the field of cyclist safety. Originality/Value: The paper encompasses two studies, the findings of which complement one another substantially and provide a deeper insight into the issues of cyclist safety and preventive actions taken by different stakeholders. They serve as a basis for further exploring this issue in different local environments with a view of obtaining a more comprehensive insight into the key challenges of traffic safety from a broader perspective.

Keywords

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Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2019
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UM FVV - Faculty of Criminal Justice
UDC:	351.78:656.183
COBISS:	3839210
ISSN:	1580-0253
Parent publication:	Varstvoslovje
Views:	432
Downloads:	40
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
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Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Stališča prebivalcev o varnosti kolesarjev in kolesarski infrastrukturi v Mestni občini Celje
Secondary abstract:	Namen prispevka: V prispevku predstavljamo rezultate raziskav, s katerima smo analizirali stališča različnih ciljnih populacij o kolesarski varnosti in primernosti preventivnih ukrepov v Sloveniji. Namen raziskav je ugotoviti pomanjkljivosti v pristopih k zagotavljanju varnosti kolesarjev, oceniti primernost načrtovanih rešitev in predlagati izboljšave na področju preventivnega ukrepanja različnih deležnikov. Metode: V okviru prispevka smo izvedli terensko raziskavo med prebivalci Mestne občine Celje (n = 171) o zadovoljstvu z urejenostjo kolesarske varnosti in spletno anketo med uporabniki spleta (n = 210) o uporabnosti alternativnega pristopa k ozaveščanju kolesarjev skozi digitalizacijo kolesarskih poti in varnostnih tveganjih. Ugotovitve: Rezultati kažejo, da anketiranci na splošno niso zadovoljni z varnostjo kolesarjev, saj večina meni, da občina za varnost kolesarjev ne naredi dovolj. Ugotavljamo, da je na ravni občine treba zagotoviti ustrezno urejenost kolesarske infrastrukture in spodbujati kulturo udeležencev v cestnem prometu, tudi skozi spodbujanje preventivnega ukrepanja. Uporabniki spleta kot tudi prebivalci Mestne občine Celje prepoznavajo visoko potrebo po digitalizaciji kolesarskih poti z označbo varnostnih tveganj, zato je smiselno klasične pristope k ozaveščanju javnosti nadgraditi z rešitvami, ki so uporabne za kolesarje. Omejitve/uporabnost raziskave Omejitev raziskave je v tem, da je ne gre posplošiti na vse občine, saj občine zaradi svoje suverenosti različno pristopajo k zagotavljanju varnosti kolesarjev, prav tako pa se v vsaki občini pojavljajo različna varnostna tveganja. Obenem je zaradi neslučajnostnega vzorca potrebna previdnost tudi pri posploševanju rezultatov raziskave. Praktična uporabnost: Rezultati prispevka so primarno uporabni za odločevalce in upravljavce na državni ravni ter lokalni ravni pri načrtovanju sprememb in varnostnih ukrepov na področju varnosti kolesarjev. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Prispevek vključuje raziskavi, katerih ugotovitve se pomembno dopolnjujejo in omogočajo globlji vpogled v problematiko varnosti kolesarjev ter preventivnega ukrepanja različnih deležnikov. Prispevek predstavlja podlago za nadaljnje raziskovanje tovrstne problematike v različnih lokalnih okoljih za pridobitev celovitejšega vpogleda v ključne izzive prometne varnosti na širši ravni.
Secondary keywords:	varnost;kolesarji;kolesarska infrastruktura;varnostna tveganja;stališča prebivalcev;Mestna občina Celje;
Type (COBISS):	Scientific work
Pages:	str. 382-404
Volume:	ǂLetn. ǂ21
Issue:	ǂšt. ǂ4
Chronology:	2019
ID:	11519191