Road gradient for cycling infrastructures: standard and low-cost measurement

Abstract

Urban mobility planning based on the use of non-motorized means of transport, such as cycling, is an important contribution to the improvement of mobility, accessibility and equity in cities. In order to make the cycling mode more competitive in relation to motorized vehicles, it is necessary to evaluate the potential of alternatives from the perspective of the physical effort. One way to do so consists of assessing the suitability of locations for implementing cycling infrastructures. For this purpose, this work presents a process for classifying terrains and roads in terms of the longitudinal gradient. Furthermore, an evaluation of the reliability of some low-cost tools to measure this parameter was conducted, by comparison with standard measurement using cartographic plans, on a field study applied to the city of Braga, Portugal. These tools revealed a good level of accuracy for the planning stage, but proved to be less reliable for use in design.