Commuter Cyclist Travel Behavior

Abstract

The study reported in this paper examined commuter cyclist travel behavior specifically in response to changes in weather. An investigation into how bicyclists made their day-to-day riding decisions provided insights into the factors that guided their behavior in adverse weather. Disaggregate travel data collected from an in-depth survey were analyzed. Examination of general commuter cyclist travel behavior led to the identification of differences on the basis of riding frequency. Weather conditions were found to be a paramount factor in a commuter's riding decisions. Further survey results were analyzed to gain insight into the influence of end-of-trip facilities and to quantify whether riders who had access to such facilities were less sensitive to changes in weather. More than half of the respondents indicated that these facilities were important, in that they encouraged the respondents to ride to work when the weather was not favorable. Given the variability in day-to-day ridership, commuter riders were expected to alternate modes when faced with adverse weather. The modal shift of commuter riders was analyzed with a logistic regression model. When the model was used to predict the probability of a shift to private transport (e.g., drive alone, get a lift from someone else, use a motorcycle or motor scooter), it correctly predicted nearly 80% of the cases. The implications of the results for government policies and strategies that seek to increase commuter cycling in urban areas are discussed.