Removing Barriers to Bicycle Use in Black and Hispanic Communities

Research on identifying barriers to bicycling has become popular over the past decade. However, few studies have been conducted on barriers and solutions that are unique to bicycle use among Blacks and Hispanics. The purpose of the study was to ascertain barriers to and identify solutions to bicycle use among Black and Hispanic bicyclists and non-bicyclists. Primary data collection methods were intercept surveys of pedestrians in thirty-four geographically and typographically diverse municipalities in New Jersey and focus groups with exclusively Black and Hispanic participants.The intercept survey method was selected to obtain a high response rate that was representative of the selected municipalities. The focus groups obtained additional information that can be difficult to gather from an intercept survey.A total of 1,660 surveys were collected, and 16 Blacks and 10 Hispanics participated in the focus groups. These data show that the three biggest barriers to bicycling for all respondents are fear of a traffic collision, fear of robbery and assault, and pavement condition. Other notable barriers include fear of being stranded with a broken bicycle, and fear of being profiled by the police. Solutions for both bicyclists and non-bicyclists include bicycle lanes and off-street bicycle paths between their respective origins and destinations,and secure bicycle parking at their destinations.Key findings from the study are being discussed with select agencies and organizations throughout NJ.

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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANF20 Standing Committee on Bicycle Transportation.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Brown, Charles T
  • Sinclair, James
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2017-1-8 to 2017-1-12
• Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: African Americans; Bicycle facilities; Bicycle travel; Communities; Crimes; Cyclists; Fear; Hispanics; Minorities; Pavement distress; Safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers (Challenges); Intercept surveys
• Geographic Terms: New Jersey
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01623108
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 17-03327
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 24 2017 3:15PM