Introduction

The rapid pace of urbanization over recent decades has generated substantial development opportunities while simultaneously imposing significant social, economic, and environmental pressures on cities.Patterns of dispersed urban development have intensified dependence on private automobiles, resulting in traffic congestion, longer daily travel times, inefficient land use, the conversion of agricultural land and green spaces, and increased emissions of air pollutants.Under these conditions, transit-oriented development(TOD)has emerged as one of the most widely endorsed and sustainable approaches for addressing contemporary urban transportation challenges.A core pillar of this approach is the promotion of sustainable modes of mobility, particularly walking and cycling.

Cycling, as an efficient alternative to private automobiles for short-distance urban trips, has long been institutionalized in many developed countries, where it plays a critical role in reducing environmental pollution, improving public health, and enhancing overall urban quality of life. Within this context, the Urmia Traffic and TransportationOrganization launched theIntelligentBicycle-Sharing System(SAHAD)in July2016, guided by a vision of creating a green and clean city supported by modern technologies.The project was designed to reduce traffic congestion, improve environmental conditions, and promote public health; however, after several years of implementation, a substantial share of its anticipated objectives remains unrealized, and the system has yet to achieve an optimal level of operational efficiency.

Methodology

The methodological framework of this study comprises two main components:social data analysis and spatial configuration analysis of the urban street network.In the first phase, a structured questionnaire was administered to residents of Urmia to assess the perceived importance of cycling facilities, gender-based perceptions, and the relationship between accident-related concerns and the level of bicycle use.Following questionnaire design, its internal consistency was evaluated usingCronbach’s alpha, and the collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests inSPSS.

The statistical population corresponded to the total population of Urmia, and, considering the constraints of the study, the sample size was determined as384respondents usingCochran’s formula.In addition,20experts in urban planning and traffic engineering were purposively selected and surveyed through a separate questionnaire to complement the general survey data.

In the second phase, to identify streets with the potential for cycling route development, the urban street network was first digitized inAutoCAD and subsequently transferred to DepthmapXfor spatial configuration analysis.Key spatial indicators, including depth, connectivity, integration, and choice, were evaluated as primary measures of movement potential and accessibility to determine the suitability of urban corridors for the implementation ofdedicated cycling infrastructure.

Result and Discussion

The initial analysis of the public survey data indicates that women constituted the majority of respondents(53.1%),while individuals aged19–30years represented the dominant age group, accounting for72.6%of the sample. Analysis of accessibility-related subcomponents revealed that access to everyday land uses, such as residential areas, schools, retail facilities, and workplaces, was rated as themost important factor (82%),whereas the role of cycling routes in connecting different parts of the city received thelowest importance rating(36.4%).This finding suggests that users prioritize practical functionality and direct access in their daily activities over the broader network connectivity of cycling routes.Within the urban design and streetscape component, route maintenance quality was rated as the most important factor(76%),whereas the visual attractiveness of surrounding landscapes received the lowest importance score. This indicates that, for users inUrmia, the physical condition of cycling routes outweighs aesthetic considerations. Similarly, within thesafety and security dimension, adequate route lighting emerged as the most important subcomponent(82.2%),while the presence of traffic-calming measures was assigned thelowest priority. Collectively, these findings indicate that users, particularly women, regard the physical quality and safety of cycling routes as the primary determinants of their willingness to engage in cycling.

Pearson correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between accident-related concerns and the level of bicycle use(r = −0.297, Sig = 0.021),indicating that heightened perceptions of traffic-related insecurity constitute one of the most substantial barriers to the wider adoption of cycling in Urmia.By contrast, statistical tests comparing women and men in terms of the importance attributed to cycling facilities revealed no significant difference between the two groups(Sig = 0.244).Nevertheless, mean scores suggest that women exhibit greater sensitivity to route quality and safety.

According to expert assessments, infrastructural deficiencies were identified as the most influential factor limiting public uptake of the project(60%),whereas economic constraints faced by responsible institutions were considered the least influential(20%).These findings underscore weaknesses in the physical infrastructure and the lack of network continuity as the primary drivers of the project’s limited effectiveness.Experts further identified the Shahrchai and Shahid Beheshti corridors as the most suitable candidates for the development of dedicated cycling routes. This assessment is consistent with the study’s spatial analyses, which indicate that these corridors exhibit high levels of integration, connectivity, and choice, highlighting their strong potential for transformation into standard cycling corridors.

Conclusion

This study was conducted to identify the underlying reasons for the limited success of theSAHADproject and to examine both public expectations and expert-defined requirements.The findings indicate that infrastructural deficiencies, insufficient coordination among responsible institutions, and limited consideration of user needs constitute the primary factors contributing to the project’s underperformance. Drawing on the statistical and spatial analyses, a set of practical strategies was proposed to enhance system efficiency, with particular emphasis on improving route quality, strengthening safety conditions, establishing a continuous and well-connected network, and incorporating gender-sensitive considerations.

Although these strategies were formulated in response to the specific urban context of Urmia, they also demonstrate applicability to cities with comparable socio-spatial characteristics. To improve project performance, measures such as the implementation of standard cycling infrastructure, enhanced lighting and surveillance, traffic calming along high-volume corridors, public education and awareness-raising initiatives, improved inter-institutional coordination, and continuous performance monitoring are recommended.The implementation of these measures hasthe potential to increase public uptake, particularly among women and children, and to strengthen the role of cycling within the urban transportation system.

Overall, the systematic development of bicycle-sharing systems can contribute not only to reductions in traffic congestion and environmental pollution but also to the realization of sustainable and smart cities.In this regard, thepresent study offers valuable guidance for theplanning and implementation of similar initiatives inother urban contexts.

Keywords: Smart city; Bicycle-sharing systems; TOD; Sustainable transportation.