Planning Bicycle-Friendly Destinations for Recreational Cyclists: Attributes, Priorities, and Policy Implications

This study examines recreational cyclists’ evaluations of bicycle-friendly destination attributes to support efficient resource allocation in contexts with limited infrastructural capacity. Drawing on expectation-disconfirmation theory and importance-performance analysis, perceived importance is interpreted as cyclists’ expectations, perceived performance as destination performance, and their gap as disconfirmation. Using a fully mixed sequential dominant design, qualitative and quantitative data were collected from recreational cyclists and key cycling stakeholders in Aksaray, Türkiye. Qualitative data were analysed through content and descriptive analysis, while quantitative data were examined using descriptive statistics and IPA. Findings show that accessibility, complementary services, and basic amenities constitute the primary planning priorities in this early-stage cycling destination. Tourism attractions remain important, but in the Aksaray case their contribution may be constrained where safe accessibility, signage, security, and support services remain incomplete. The findings support a provisional stage-sensitive planning proposition that requires comparative testing across destinations at different development stages.