Cycling is recognized as one of the most important transportation systems that can contribute to achieving sustainable mobility. On the other hand, changing societal attitudes toward cycling can increase its use in cities. Therefore, examining the barriers to cycling and the social perceptions of this activity in urban areas is of great importance. Considering the significance of this mode of transportation in urban mobility, this study analyzes the obstacles and influencing factors that affect increasing cycling in Tabriz city. The results of this study show that the decline in the willingness to travel by bicycle in Tabriz, the unevenness of the routes, and pollution (noise and air pollution) are the most significant barriers, with mean scores of 3.36 and 3.35. The findings also indicate that there is no significant relationship between respondents' demographic characteristics—such as age, gender, occupation, education level, and their frequency of bicycle use as a transportation mode. However, the Spearman correlation test reveals a weak, inverse relationship between marital status and bicycle usage. There is a slight positive relationship between income and the recreational use of bicycles. Additionally, there is no significant relationship between respondents' demographic features and their social attitudes toward bicycle use in Tabriz. Meanwhile, increasing public awareness about the benefits of cycling encourages people to use bicycles more for recreational purposes. Moreover, reducing negative feelings toward cycling increases recreational use. As a result, awareness and infrastructure improvements play a vital role in promoting cycling both for recreation and daily activities in Tabriz. Regarding the prioritization of routes for cyclists, the study indicates that the route from the Nesfe Rah to Shariati intersection is the top priority for commuting by bicycle, while for recreational trips, the route from the Abresan intersection to El-Goli is given higher priority than other routes.