Cycling Survey
A student at the University of Amsterdam is conducting an online survey of cycling behavior as part of his course work:
I am a student at the University of Amsterdam doing research on cycling behaviour around the world. One of the objectives of this research is to find out what persuades people to use their bicycle instead of other means of transportation. What’s more, we are hoping to be able to use this research to convince governments all over the world to actively promote biking; both in resources as well as city planning.
If you’d like to help him out by taking the survey, it can be accessed here. I’m hoping to get a copy of the survey when it’s complete; I’ll post it here if I do.
8 Responses to “Cycling Survey”
I filled it out, nice survey.
Filled it out too. Took a few minutes, but I thought the questions were well thought out, and covered a lot of ground.
Here you go Alan, a little crude, just cut and pasted as I took the survey. I put a * by my selections.
1. How often do you ride a bicycle on average? Almost every day * Few times a week Once a week Several times a month Once a month Several times a year Never
2. Would you like to ride your bicycle more often? Yes * No
3. If the current amount is not enough, what is stopping you? (More than one answer possible) Not enough time Roads/traffic too dangerous Bad weather Hills Distances Afraid to get lost Afraid my bike gets stolen Difficult to combine with (other) public transport (bus, train, metro) Insufficient (parking) facilities Too sweaty when I arrive at destination Ruins (working) clothes or gives “helmet hair†Other (please specify) * – to deliver purchased bikes to Fedex
4. What is your primary reason for biking? (Please choose the most appropriate answer) Commuting (regular use) * Package delivery (messenger/courier) Wellness (Physical/mental health) Sports (Fitness, competition) Recreational (personal enjoyment) Sightseeing/ exploring Being with other people (social rides, city events) Other (please specify)
5. What kind of biking do you like most? (Please choose the most appropriate answer) Commuting (regular use) * Package delivery (messenger/courier) Wellness (Physical/mental health) Sports (Fitness, competition) Recreational (personal enjoyment) Sightseeing/ exploring Being with other people (social rides, city events) Other (please specify)
6. Why?
7. Can you rank the following benefits of cycling in order of personal importance from 1 to 5? (1 meaning ‘not important’ and 5 meaning ‘very important’) 1 2 3 4 5 Saving time Can you rank the following benefits of cycling in order of personal importance from 1 to 5? (1 meaning ‘not important’ and 5 meaning ‘very important’) Saving time – 1 Flexibility (freedom of movement) – 4 Saving money (on car/fuel) – 5 Health/ wellness – 5 Sightseeing/ exploring – 5 Personal enjoyment – 5 Environmental benefits – 5 Raising (political) awareness for cycling – 5
8. Do you ever commute to work by bicycle? No Yes *
9. How often do you commute by bicycle? Almost every day * Few times a week Once a week Few times a month Few times a year
10. If your employer or local government would support you actively to commute (financial incentives, facilities, etc.), would you commute (more often)? Definitely * Maybe Neutral Probably not Definitely not
11. What else would incent you to commute by bicycle more often? (Please choose your top 3) (free) City bicycles Safer traffic – 3 Better bicycle infrastructure (e.g. biking paths) Better connection to public transport Secure parking Better navigation (bike maps, GPS, etc.) More bike (repair) shops More bicyclists/commuters – 1 Financial incentives (e.g. tax benefits, rebates) – 2 Other (please specify)
12. Do you consider your city/town bicycle-friendly? Yes * No
13. Why? (more than one answer possible) Strong bicycle culture/ community Good general infrastructure (bike paths, signage, road mapping) Enough secure parking Enough bicycle shops Promoted by local government Promoted by employers Friendly traffic (cars are used to bicycles) Distances are right for using a bicycle * Other (please specify)
14. Why not? (more than one answer possible) Geographical reasons Poor general infrastructure Not enough secure parking Not enough bicycle shops * Not promoted by local government Not promoted by employers * Unfriendly traffic (cars are dangerous) Distances are to big Other (please specify)
15. Is there anything else you would like to see happen to make your city/town more bicycle-friendly? – More monthly or weekly commute days, promoted by the city to get people out of there vehicles. Maybe a monthly, yearly commute challenge.
16. Do you ever bike with other people? Yes * No
17. With whom? (more than one answer possible) With Family * on weekends With Friends * on weekends With colleagues * for lunch runs or along similar commute routes With a group Other (please specify)
18. Do you ever visit bicycle community website(s)? (e.g blogs, forums, chat rooms, etc.) Yes * No
19. Which websites have you visited? – http://www.ecovelo.info, http://www.crankforward.com, http://www.ransbikes.com, http://www.bentrideronline.com, http://www.spincyclz.com, http://www.bikeforums.net, http://www.vik-approved.com
20. Have you attended or participated in any bicycle events this year? Yes * No
21. Which bicycle events have you attended/ participated in? – local club rides
22. Do you consider yourself part of one or more bicycle community/communities? Yes * No
23. How would you describe your bicycle community/communities? – There is a decent bike path system in our area, and drivers seem pretty friendly. There is are a couple riding clubs, and lots of good scenic roads in nearby areas.
24. Do you support the idea of community building initiatives to raise bicycle awareness within the city? Yes * No
25. Why (not)? – It’s the grassroots approach that we can put into action immediately, bring individuals and families closer through the act of cycling, and promote a healthly and fit populous.
26. What kind of bicycle(s) do you use? (more than one answer possible) Basic city bike Race bike Tour/Trekking/Mountain bike * – RANS crank forward Dynamik Public bike (shared bike) Folding bike Electric bike Other (please specify)
27. Which of these bicycle accessories do you use on your bicycle? (more than one answer possible) Special jacket/ other clothing Reflective material Special basket/ bag * Helmet * Bicycle lights * Horn/ bell * Navigation Bicycle lock Bicycle repair kit/ tool * Other (please specify)
28. Which of these accessories is most important to you? (one answer possible) Which of these accessories is most important to you? (one answer possible) – Helmet
29. Why? Protecting your head allows you to use the rest…long term
30. Do you ever use a map to get around on your bicycle? Yes No *
32. Have you ever used GPS (satellite) navigation on your mobile phone? (including usage for car, biking and walking) Yes No * bicycling is supposed to be simple eh, less disctrations
35. Would mobile city biking maps help you in using navigation on a (more) regular basis to get around ? Yes No *
36. Why (not)? – self navigation has never been a problem
37. If using mobile navigation, would there be anything specific you would like to see added to the navigation software? (more than one answer possible) Weather reports * Driest routes Shortest distance Safest route * Local information/city attractions * Tip and tricks (bicycle related) * Route tracing (plan or record your route) Automatic syncing with computer * Other (please specify)
38. Which one of these extra’s would most appeal to you? – safest car-free routes
39. Why? – car free
40. What is your age? under 20 20 – 30 30 – 40 * 40 – 50 50+
41. Where do you live? City/town – Petaluma, CA Country – Sonoma
42. Is there anything you would like to add to this research? (e.g. regarding this survey, bicycle advocacy, bicycle accessories, tips, etc.) – Check out the RANS crank forward line-up either at their enthusiast website http://www.crankforward.com or mine http://www.spincyclz.com. These bikes are purpose built to fit a wide range of riders (5-6′+ with the same frame), carry lite and now heavy loads with their new utility bike the HammerTruck, and for many they relieve all the pains and hazards of traditions bikes (wrist, neck, back, butt, and not going over the bars with their low center of gravity), and are easy to get your feet down at giving confidence to novice and seasoned riders. They may not be the fastest, lightest, cheapest, but they are well built, offer a great value, and a blast to ride eh.
I ride a bike “to get there”. I don’t ride a bike to get there when riding the bike would interfere with what I’m doing when I get there ex. going to doctor when they need a resting pulse BP test, going to get massage. There are times when riding a bike after a massage is great, but usually I go to relax, and with the traffic around here there is nothing relaxing about riding my bike. My heart rate goes up just sitting waiting for a traffic light.
BTW Sonoma is not a country, it’s a county. the country is USA.
Alan, I just finished the survey. Thanks for posting it.
kevin E
As an academic I often take surveys with a naive mood. Someone to whom I sent the survey asked me if it was marketing driven. He was surprised by all the questions regarding GPS and their associated services. I was only surprised that no reference is given to the author of the survey (as we do generally). In the meantime, we took it and just mentioned that the GPS was of no use for us.
Wow.. this blog is nice.. I like it. Cheers!