Cicloviabilidade para polos geradores de viagens (PGVs): campus universitário, um estudo de caso no centro politécnico da UFPR

Abstract

The car-centered urban model has fostered a mobility culture that prioritizes individual motorized transport, leading to urban congestion and environmental pollution. This study examines the impact of major Trip-Generating Hubs (TGHs), particularly university campuses, on urban mobility, with a focus on bicycle use as a mode of transport. The aim is to develop an index that assesses the feasibility of cycling in a specific area. Conducted between 2019 and 2024, the research assumes that a precise diagnosis of bicycle use at a TGHs can support strategies for promoting active, sustainable mobility. The study uses the largest campus of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), the Centro Politécnico in Curitiba, as a case to identify factors influencing bicycle adoption. These factors were consolidated into the Cycling Feasibility Index for Trip-Generating Hubs (CFI-TGHs), a tool assessing bicycle use viability in urban areas by considering structural, environmental, psychosocial, political, and legal aspects. One of the study’s most notable findings—though initially outside the thesis objectives—was the introduction of the concept of ―Cycling Feasibility.‖ This concept emerged from analyzing the current factors that influence the choice of cycling as a transport mode around people-dense hubs. Cycling Feasibility offers an integrated assessment of bike-related mobility factors within and around a TGHs, considering a six-kilometer radius, the distance generally comfortable for functional cycling. The goal is to determine how viable an area and its surroundings are for effective bicycle use as a transport option. The CFI-TGH analysis for Centro Politécnico revealed that while most indicators rated positively, challenges remain in areas like traffic safety and bike rack infrastructure. This research highlights the importance of sustainable mobility and the need for strong public policies to overcome barriers to cycling. Validation of the CFI-TGHs by a panel of experts confirmed its relevance as a tool for assessing and encouraging bicycle use in large developments. Both the CFI-TGHs and the concept of Cycling Feasibility provide a structured approach to advancing cycling mobility and serve as a guide for future interventions in sustainable urban mobility. The core thesis content spans 180 pages, with two comprehensive appendices providing supplementary information and research data. These appendices house detailed research instruments, raw data collections, and additional analyses that—while essential to the methodological integrity of the work-have been strategically placed outside the main text to enhance readability and maintain narrative flow.