Using the PROMETHEE II method for the assessment of recreational and tourist cycle routes

Abstract

PURPOSE: This article is devoted to route planning for the purposes of recreational and tourist cycling, presenting the results of research that employed the PROMETHEE II method for the assessment of such routes in Kraków and its suburban areas (Poland). It aims to contribute to the little-studied issue of the evaluation of recreational and tourist cycle routes that connect urban and suburban areas.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research relies on one of the Multiple Criteria Decision Aid (MCDA) methods, PROMETHEE II. The variants of bike routes were compared in terms of different economic, social and technical criteria to arrive at a final ranking. The weights of the criteria were assigned based on the knowledge and experience of experts in bike infrastructure design as well as the opinion of bike users.

FINDINGS: The findings show the factors that matter not only for the users of cycle routes, but also for entities in charge of creating such infrastructure. They also highlight the importance of various aspects that accompany route planning, such as cooperation between entities, integration with the railway system or the use of religious sites as the backbone of the route.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the study complement the current state of knowledge on the factors for planning and accessing the recreational and tourist bike routes. The conclusions can contribute to the broader transport and tourism policy of many regions, including suburban and rural areas. The method employed, because its universal character, may be used for assessment of cycle routes for various user types and different locations.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Its uniqueness consists in that it includes the aspect of integration of cycle routes with railway infrastructure and employs one of the least common MCDA methods. Moreover the importance of the parameters of the recreational and tourist routes are analysed not only from the view point of the route users, but also entities in charge of creating such infrastructure.