Investigation of Encouraging and Discouraging Factors on Bicycle Use as a Transport Mode the Case Study of Gonbad City

Increased use of cars in cities has led to traffic and problems in the urban road network and environmental and air pollution, and this issue has increased the desire of people in the community to use bicycles. The objective of this study was to explore and describe the encouraging and discouraging reasons behind the use of bikes among cyclists, together with the reasons behind their journeys and the relationship of these elements with their crash history. This research is an experimental description and field and library methods and questionnaire, interview and observation tools have been used to collect information. This research was conducted by conducting an electronic survey on the reasons and motivations for cycling among 405 of the Gonbad cyclists. The results show that physical health and fitness, Reduce shipping costs, and Reduce the cost of preparation, maintenance and were the most frequent factors which encouraged cycling. On the other hand, Lack of security (possibility of theft), Less cyclist safety than other means of transportation and Lack of cycling culture were found to be the most relevant discouraging factors. The results also showed that there is a significant gender gap among cyclists and most participants, especially women, mentioned the existing cultural restrictions as an important and effective factor in not wanting to ride a bike. In addition, participants who cited independence and freedom, time savings, recreation, and entertainment as their main motivators, as well as those whose main disincentives were weather conditions, lack of cycling culture. And they expressed safety, they are more likely to suffer from cycling accidents. Due to the fact that cycling is generally done for fun and entertainment and with a short travel time, there is a need to develop cycling with practical purposes. Also, in order to enhance the engagement of the population in this mode of transportation