Schematic Bicycle Maps for Sustainable Mobility

2024–present · How schematic bicycle maps influence cyclist behavior, mode choice, and sustainable mobility

Research Overview

This ongoing research investigates how schematic bicycle maps can influence mode choice, cyclist behavior, and ultimately reduce vehicle emissions in urban areas. The study combines survey research, map design optimization, and behavioral analysis to develop evidence-based design principles for bicycle navigation tools.

Project Objectives

  • Assess cyclist preferences for different map representations and design features
  • Understand how schematic map design affects route selection and cycling behavior
  • Develop optimization frameworks for bicycle map design to promote cycling adoption
  • Investigate potential impacts on greenhouse gas emissions through increased cycling mode share
  • Establish unified design rules for schematic bicycle maps

Methodology

Survey Development and Data Collection

  • Designed comprehensive survey to assess cycling preferences and infrastructure perceptions
  • Incorporated insights from prior research on bicycle navigation and safety concerns
  • Deployed survey using incentivized online platform with bot detection mechanisms
  • Focus on understanding cyclist decision-making processes and map usage patterns

Map Design and Optimization

  • Developing mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) frameworks for optimal schematic map design
  • Analyzing trade-offs between geographic accuracy and visual simplicity
  • Incorporating user feedback and preference data into design rules

Behavioral Analysis

  • Examining relationships between map features and cycling behavior
  • Analyzing how simplified representations affect route choice and perceived accessibility
  • Investigating potential for schematic maps to influence mode choice decisions

Current Status

The research is in active data collection and analysis phase, with survey responses being analyzed for cyclist preferences and map design insights. Manuscript preparation is underway for multiple publications.

Funding

Armstrong Fund for Science, 2024-2026 (PI: J. Oke)

Collaborators

  • Prof. Jimi Oke (UMass Amherst)
  • Prof. Eleni Christofa (UMass Amherst)
  • Andrew Ruger (Grinnell College, REU Student)
  • Geehan Altayb (Howard University, REU Student)
  • Nathan Bohlke (UMass Amherst)

Publications

  • Maps are good but are simpler maps better? Insights on urban bicycling in the US — Environmental Research Communications, 8(2), 025004 (2026)
  • Schematic maps promise to induce micromobility ridership: a Bayesian latent class ordered logistic approach (Under review)
  • Toward Unified Design Rules for Schematic Bicycle Maps (Under review)
  • Explainable Data-Driven Multi-Filter Framework for Bot Detection in Incentivized Online Surveys — Data Science for Transportation (2026, in press)
  • Schematic Bicycle Maps for Influencing Cyclist Behavior and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (In preparation)
  • Barriers to Cycling: A comprehensive literature review (In preparation)

Conference Presentations

  • “Optimizing and Deploying Schematic Bicycle Maps with MILP and User Input” - INFORMS Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA (October 2025, poster)