The Portland State Center for Transportation Studies Winter 2007 Transportation Seminar Series will host Dr. Jennifer Dill and Kim Voros on Friday to present their initial findings of their survey with the goal of understanding what motivates people to ride bikes.
Dr. Dill is a leading researcher on the issues of bicycle and pedestrian transportation planning. She is leading professor working on the Initiative Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation at PSU and recently was awarded research funding for tracking bicyclists using GPS. Kim Voros is completing her Masters of Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University.
This presentation is also available via web-broadcast.
Presentation Details:
Friday, January 26, 2007 at 12:00-1:30pm
Portland State University Urban Center (www.pdx.edu/map.html)
For more information, see Center for Transportation Studies Seminar Website
Research Abstract
Levels of bicycling in the U.S., particularly for non-recreation purposes and among adults, are very low. Only about one percent of the trips people make in the U.S. are on bicycles, including less than five percent of trips under one-half mile. Factors influencing rates of cycling include demographics and environmental factors. Environmental factors can be measured both objectively (e.g. miles of bike lanes, average temperature, and street connectivity) and subjectively (e.g. people’s rating or perception of the bicycling environment). People’s attitudes about travel and mobility also likely play a role. This paper uses results from a random phone survey of adults in the Portland, Oregon region to explore the relationships between levels of cycling and demographics, objective environmental factors, perceptions of the environment, and attitudes. The survey revealed several significant differences, though additional analysis is necessary. There was a weak or no relationship between objective measures of proximity to off-street trails and bike lanes and higher levels of cycling. However, positive perceptions of the availability of bike lanes was associated with more cycling and the desire to cycle more. Higher levels of street connectivity were associated with more cycling for utilitarian trips.
