Guiding the way: exploring cycle tourists’ needs and preferences for cycling route maps and signage

Due to their mobile, self‐propelled nature, independent cycle tourists are a unique group because they are reliant upon accurate wayfinding aids to facilitate trip planning and navigation while en route. Directorial and/or informative signage and cartographic maps are important wayfinding aids for these tourists. However, little research to date has considered the needs and preferences of independent cycle tourists with reference to wayfinding aids. This paper presents a combination of quantitative and qualitative evidence collected from a broader study of independent cycle tourists in Australia. The research found that the personal health and safety of cycle tourists can be compromised by the provision of inaccurate information published on maps and signage. Female cycle tourists appeared to be more susceptible to wayfinding anxiety than males, and exhibited a stronger desire to be well informed about the nature of the routes they will cycle on. Implications for the planning and management of initiatives designed to attract independent cycle tourists to a destination region are highlighted, as are potential areas for future research.