POTENTIAL OF TRANSFERRING CAR TRIPS TO BICYCLE DURING WINTER

This study examines the attitudes towards cycling in Sweden during winter, with specific consideration of winter maintenance of cycleways. Questionnaires regarding mode choice and travel behavior were completed by employees at four major companies in two cities. Results revealed a clear difference in mode choice between seasons. The number of car trips increased by 27% from summer to winter, while the number of bicycle trips decreased by 47%. The number of car trips increased with distance, while the number of bicycle trips decreased, and the decrease was even more significant in winter than in summer. Different categories of cyclists indicated different factors that influenced their choice of transportation mode for the journey to work. Exercise was the most important factor to those who cycled frequently in winter, and travel time the most important to those who never cycled to work. Temperature, precipitation and road condition were the most important factors to those who cycled to work in summer but not in winter. Few respondents thought that the winter maintenance service level of cycleways was satisfactory. Snow clearance was found to be the most important maintenance measure. By improving winter maintenance service levels, it might be possible to increase the number of bicycle trips during winter by 18%, representing a corresponding decrease in the number of car trips of 6%. As the grading of factors important for mode choice suggests, most of these increased bicycle trips would probably come from current winter cyclists.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09658564
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  The Boulevard, Langford Lane
  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • Bergstrom, A
  • Magnusson, R
• Publication Date: 2003-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 649-666
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0965-8564
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automobile travel; Bicycle commuting; Bikeways; Commuters; Mode choice; Questionnaires; Snow removal; Travel time; Trip length; Urban travel; Weather conditions; Winter; Winter maintenance; Work trips
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; Terminals and Facilities; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00960812
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 26 2003 12:00AM