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Transportation (2011) 38:153168 DOI 10.1007/s11116-010-9284-y
Meghan Winters Gavin Davidson Diana Kao Kay Teschke
Published online: 13 June 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2010
Abstract In a survey of 1,402 current and potential cyclists in Metro Vancouver, 73 motivators and deterrents of cycling were evaluated. The top motivators, consistent among regular, frequent, occasional and potential cyclists, were: routes away from trafc noise and pollution; routes with beautiful scenery; and paths separated from trafc. In factor analysis, the 73 survey items were grouped into 15 factors. The following factors had the most inuence on likelihood of cycling: safety; ease of cycling; weather conditions; route conditions; and interactions with motor vehicles. These results indicate the importance of the location and design of bicycle routes to promote cycling.
Keywords Bicycle Survey Infrastructure Inuence Non-motorized transport
Introduction
With the rising pressures of climate change and illnesses related to physical inactivity (Katzmarzyk 2002; Colman and Walker 2004), there is increasing interest in shifting the automobile-dominated culture toward active transportation modes (Dora 1999; Sallis et al. 2004). Incorporating bicycling into daily travel patterns offers benets for both individual and environmental health, with negligible economic cost (Cavill and Davis 2007). Furthermore, cycling is a feasible transportation mode: over 60% of Canadian adults have a bicycle, and more than 80% live within a reasonable cycling distance (\8 km) of at least
M. Winters (&) K. Teschke
School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canadae-mail: [email protected]
G. Davidson
TransLink (South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority), 1600-4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4N2, Canada
D. Kao
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Motivators and deterrents of bicycling: comparing inuences on decisions to ride
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one common destination (Go For Green 2004). Still, cycling mode share is low in North American cities, as compared to European centres (Pucher and Dijkstra 2003; Pucher and Buehler 2005). Evidence is needed on the types of initiatives that will create a supportive environment for cycling, and induce positive, long-term changes in travel behavior and physical activity patterns (Heath et al. 2006).
The friendliness of a city toward cycling is a function of the policies, programs, and facilities in...