Citation

Hanson S, Hanson P. Transp. Res. Rec. 1977; 629: 43-48.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Weather is one factor that is believed to have a significant impact on bicycle use as a transportation mode. This paper presents a method for exploring the sensitivity of two types of bicycle use to variable weather conditions. The results of studies such as this one can be used in conjunction with previous findings to estimate the proportion of present-day automobile travel that could be transferred to bicycle travel, if appropriate bicycle facilities are provided. The study uses travel data collected in Uppsala, Sweden over a 39-day period in the spring of 1971. The daily proportion of bicycle travel for discretionary purposes and journay to work is compared to daily weather data. Correlation and regression analyses were used to assess the impact of weather on bicycle use. The study indicates that temperature and cloud coverage do affect the proportion of daily travel made by bicycle and that the weather variables have a different impact on each of the two types of bicycle travel. The study also examines the alternative modes used on the days when little travel is done by bicycle. The study reveals that a larger proportion of travel to work is done by bicycle than of travel for discretionary purposes regardless of weather conditions. When the temperature is below freezing, between 20 and 25 percent of all trips to work are made by bicycle.