Citation

Everett MD, Spencer J. Transp. Res. Rec. 1983; 912: 28-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A nationwide study of determinants of mass bicycle commuting (10 percent or more of trips) is discussed. Numerous studies in specific cities and states have isolated important determinants of mass bicycle commuting, such as separation from high-speed, high-volume motor vehicle traffic and relative costs (including time). However, considerable political controversy exists over the proper policies for stimulating mass bicycle commuting, and no study systematically quantifies where mass cycling takes place in the United States or the correlates of mass cycling. Therefore, the data in this paper attempt to fill that research gap and reduce the area of policy controversy by reporting all the available examples of mass bicycle commuting in the United States. The data find almost 200 examples of mass cycling for educational institutions, but fewer than 10 examples of mass cycling to work and shopping destinations. Separation from high-speed, high-volume traffic correlates with mass cycling, although examples of mass cycling on wide moderate-speed, moderate-volume arteries exist. The relative cost of cycling, which includes time costs, correlates less strongly. However, correlation does not prove causation. The overwhelming majority of fatal accidents reported occurred on arteries and not on separate bicycle facilities or residential-type roads. Nevertheless, cycling appears to remain more hazardous than driving over a given route.

Language: en

Keywords

TRANSPORTATION; BICYCLES