An equitable and safer multi-objective cycling network design approach to connect green and blue spaces
An equitable and safer multi-objective cycling network design approach to connect green and blue spaces
In urban planning, integrating green and blue (waterside) spaces via functional cycling networks is crucial for accessible and sustainable development, with clear links to healthier lifestyles and environmental benefits. This paper presents a multi-objective approach to cycling network expansion that optimises connectivity between green and blue spaces while accounting for cost, coverage, equitable access, and safety. The approach provides useful decision support with a set of non-dominated solutions, where all solutions generate fully connected paths between existing cycle infrastructure and green and blue areas. This guarantees that the network design is functional, cycle-friendly, safer, and conducive to active transportation. To validate the approach, we generate a menu of solutions for the city of Southampton, UK. The results illustrate the model’s effectiveness in generating a network expansion design that connects existing cycling infrastructure to green and blue areas under different compromises among the criteria.
Cycling network expansion, Exact methods, Heuristics, Location problem, Multi-objective optimisation
Salezze Vieira, Bruno
2865f641-a1e3-4793-b4a9-ab3360b73702
Abeysooriya, Ranga
1811c796-9342-4d5f-848e-572b0b774401
Walker, Dawn-Marie
5d4c78b7-4411-493e-8844-b64efc72a1e8
Arruda, Edilson F.
8eb3bd83-e883-4bf3-bfbc-7887c5daa911
Salezze Vieira, Bruno
2865f641-a1e3-4793-b4a9-ab3360b73702
Abeysooriya, Ranga
1811c796-9342-4d5f-848e-572b0b774401
Walker, Dawn-Marie
5d4c78b7-4411-493e-8844-b64efc72a1e8
Arruda, Edilson F.
8eb3bd83-e883-4bf3-bfbc-7887c5daa911
Salezze Vieira, Bruno, Abeysooriya, Ranga, Walker, Dawn-Marie and Arruda, Edilson F.
(2026)
An equitable and safer multi-objective cycling network design approach to connect green and blue spaces.
Kwait Journal of Science, 53 (2), [100562].
(doi:10.1016/j.kjs.2026.100562).
Abstract
In urban planning, integrating green and blue (waterside) spaces via functional cycling networks is crucial for accessible and sustainable development, with clear links to healthier lifestyles and environmental benefits. This paper presents a multi-objective approach to cycling network expansion that optimises connectivity between green and blue spaces while accounting for cost, coverage, equitable access, and safety. The approach provides useful decision support with a set of non-dominated solutions, where all solutions generate fully connected paths between existing cycle infrastructure and green and blue areas. This guarantees that the network design is functional, cycle-friendly, safer, and conducive to active transportation. To validate the approach, we generate a menu of solutions for the city of Southampton, UK. The results illustrate the model’s effectiveness in generating a network expansion design that connects existing cycling infrastructure to green and blue areas under different compromises among the criteria.
Text
KJS(2026)
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 5 March 2026
e-pub ahead of print date: 13 March 2026
Additional Information:
Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 The Authors.
Keywords:
Cycling network expansion, Exact methods, Heuristics, Location problem, Multi-objective optimisation
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 510292
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/510292
ISSN: 2307-4116
PURE UUID: b7446b4a-9e02-4a42-a36c-2a83ba973803
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 24 Mar 2026 17:55
Last modified: 25 Mar 2026 03:14
Export record
Altmetrics
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
