EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF WEATHER ON BICYCLE USE

Weather is one factor that is believed to have a significant impact on bicycle use as a transportation mode. This paper presents a method for exploring the sensitivity of two types of bicycle use to variable weather conditions. The results of studies such as this one can be used in conjunction with previous findings to estimate the proportion of present-day automobile travel that could be transferred to bicycle travel, if appropriate bicycle facilities are provided. The study uses travel data collected in Uppsala, Sweden over a 39-day period in the spring of 1971. The daily proportion of bicycle travel for discretionary purposes and journay to work is compared to daily weather data. Correlation and regression analyses were used to assess the impact of weather on bicycle use. The study indicates that temperature and cloud coverage do affect the proportion of daily travel made by bicycle and that the weather variables have a different impact on each of the two types of bicycle travel. The study also examines the alternative modes used on the days when little travel is done by bicycle. The study reveals that a larger proportion of travel to work is done by bicycle than of travel for discretionary purposes regardless of weather conditions. When the temperature is below freezing, between 20 and 25 percent of all trips to work are made by bicycle. /Author/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1977/629/629-009.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EVALUATING+THE+IMPACT+OF+WEATHER+ON+BICYCLE+USE&author=S.+Hanson&author=P.+Hanson&publication_year=1977
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309026571
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Bicycling and Bicycle Facilities. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Hanson, Susan
  • Hanson, Perry
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 43-48
• Monograph Title: Pedestrian Controls, Bicycle Facilities, Driver Research, and System Safety
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 629
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile travel; Bicycles; Impacts; Mode choice; Temperature; Weather; Work trips
• Old TRIS Terms: Modal selection
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00173105
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309026571
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 18 1978 12:00AM