Incidents and Crashes: Exploring the Formation of Attitudes toward Bicycling

Several studies have shown the influence of attitude on bicycling behavior but little is understood about how preferences around bicycling are created and shaped. This study qualitatively explored the nature and formation of bicycling attitudes, comfort and preference of 54 residents of Davis, California. Participants between the ages of 25 and 65 years responded to self-administered questionnaires and open-ended interview questions regarding their bicycling experience throughout life. In exploring the role of incidents in the formation of attitudes, results showed that attitudinal response to crashes was unique during the youth period, where the “glory” of crashes in childhood was replaced by anxiety and fear as participants reached adulthood. Incidents involving cars particularly exacerbated deterrence and discomfort towards bicycling, whereas solo crashes were commonly perceived as unlucky or careless mishaps on the part of the bicyclist. Incidents experienced by others were more damaging to attitude towards bicycling than those experienced by oneself, especially when the participant was not a regular bicyclist. However, the vast majority of participants said they at least somewhat “like bicycling” and had bicycled recently, demonstrating that infrastructure that makes bicycling sufficiently easy and safe may encourage positive attitudes and bicycling behavior despite past traumatic experiences.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Lee, Amy E
  • Handy, Susan
  • Underwood, Sarah
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Behavior; Bicycle crashes; Bicycling; Surveys
• Geographic Terms: Davis (California)
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01365404
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-3759
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 20 2012 12:16PM