Cycling and the Built Environment, a US Perspective

Authors

Anne Vernez Moudon
Chanam Lee
Allen D. Cheadle
Cheza W. Collier
Donna Johnson
Thomas L. Schmid
Robert D. Weather

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2005

Subject Area

planning - signage/information, ridership - mode choice, policy - environment, technology - geographic information systems, mode - bike

Keywords

Social factors, Mode choice, Modal choice, Logits, Logit models, Land use, King County (Washington), Infrastructure, GIS, Geographic information systems, Geocoding, Disaggregate analysis, Demographics, Cyclists, Cycling, Cross sectional studies, Cross sectional analysis, Choice of transportation, Built environment, Bicyclists, Bicycling, Bicycle usage, Bicycle travel, Bicycle riders, Bicycle facilities

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between cycling and the built environment. This disaggregate cross-sectional study uses primary data on the cycling behavior of 608 randomly sampled respondents in urbanized King County, Washington, and objective parcel-level GIS measures of land use and infrastructure conditions. Binary logit model findings provide new insights on who bicycles, and on perceived and actual built environmental conditions associated with the likelihood of cycling in neighborhoods, controlling for sociodemographic variables. Findings show that 21% of the respondents report cycling at least once a week in their neighborhood, more often for recreation or exercise than for transportation. Cycling is more popular among male, younger adults, transit users, and those who are physically active and in good health. Both perceived and objective environmental conditions contribute to the likelihood of cycling. Proximity to trails and the presence of agglomerations of offices, clinics/hospitals, and fast food restaurants, measured objectively, are significant environmental variables. Previously researched correlates of cycling, such as the presence of bicycle lanes, traffic speed and volume, slope, block size, and the presence of parks, are found insignificant when objectively measured. A non-linear relationship is found between the odds of cycling and the perception of traffic problems and automobile-oriented facilities. Overall, results suggest that cycling is an individual choice that is independent from environmental support and is only moderately associated with the neighborhood environment. This finding likely reflects the limited bicycle infrastructure in the sample frame.

Comments

Transportation Research Part D Home Page: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Recommended Citation

Moudon, Anne, Lee, Chanam, Cheadle, Allen, Collier, Cheza, Johnson, Donna, Schmid, Thomas, Weather, Robert, (2005). Cycling and the Built Environment, a US Perspective. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 10, Issue 3, pp 245-261.