Uniquely Satisfied: Exploring Cyclist Trip Satisfaction
Despite increasing interest and focus on cycling planning and infrastructure, many research and policy frameworks overlook two important aspects of cycling: motivations and trip satisfaction. While many studies have found that cyclists are more satisfied with their commute than other mode users, few have explored why. The authors hypothesize that different types of cyclists—defined by their reasons for cycling and seasonal mode patterns—will derive different levels of satisfaction from cycling. Therefore, this study attempts to 1) examine the effect of built environment characteristics (e.g. intersection density, land use), trip characteristics (e.g. distance and slope) and season on cycling trip satisfaction, 2) group respondents into 'cyclist types' based on a cluster analysis of motivations for cycling and their alternate (winter) mode, and 3) understand how these personal characteristics moderate the relationship between built environment and trip characteristics and expressed trip satisfaction. This is accomplished using a university-wide travel survey administered in winter 2011, in which commutes to McGill University were asked to report their last trip to McGill. If the person uses a different mode during the fall he was asked to report it as well. Individuals were also asked to report their level of satisfaction with these trips. Surprisingly, the expected relationship between distance, slope and objectively measured elements of the built environment and trip satisfaction was not found. Similar to previous research, cyclists are found to be more satisfied with their commute than other mode users. Year-round cyclists are less satisfied with their travel than those who only cycle in good weather; while "Cycling Enthusiasts" are significantly more satisfied than most cyclists motivated by convenience. This work emphasizes the need to look beyond the built environment and trip characteristics to better understand cyclist trip satisfaction.
-
Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANF20 Bicycle Transportation.
-
Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Willis, Devon Paige
- Manaugh, Kevin
- El-Geneidy, Ahmed
-
Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2013-1-13 to 2013-1-17
- Date: 2013
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 20p
- Monograph Title: TRB 92nd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bicycle commuting; Built environment; Mode choice; Motivation; Seasons; Slopes; Trip length; Weather
- Uncontrolled Terms: Satisfaction (Cyclists)
- Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01472441
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 13-0943
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 19 2013 8:46AM