Bicycling for Transportation and Health: The Role of Infrastructure

This paper aims to provide insight on whether bicycling for everyday travel can help US adults meet the recommended levels of physical activity and what role public infrastructure may play in encouraging this activity. The study collected data on bicycling behavior from 166 regular cyclists in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area using global positioning system (GPS) devices. Sixty percent of the cyclists rode for more than 150 minutes per week during the study and nearly all of the bicycling was for utilitarian purposes, not exercise. A disproportionate share of the bicycling occurred on streets with bicycle lanes, separate paths, or bicycle boulevards. The data support the need for well-connected neighborhood streets and a network of bicycle-specific infrastructure to encourage more bicycling among adults. This can be accomplished through comprehensive planning, regulation, and funding.

[1]  S A Goldsmith,et al.  NATIONAL BICYCLING AND WALKING STUDY. CASE STUDY NO. 1: REASONS WHY BICYCLING AND WALKING ARE AND ARE NOT BEING USED MORE EXTENSIVELY AS TRAVEL MODES , 1992 .

[2]  Cathy L. Antonakos,et al.  ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRAVEL PREFERENCES OF CYCLISTS. , 1993 .

[3]  C. L. Antonakos.  Environmental and travel preferences of cyclists : Bicycles and bicycle facilities , 1994 .

[4]  Lisa Aultman-Hall,et al.  Analysis of Bicycle Commuter Routes Using Geographic Information Systems: Implications for Bicycle Planning , 1997 .

[5]  Arthur Christian Nelson,et al.  If You Build Them, Commuters Will Use Them: Association Between Bicycle Facilities and Bicycle Commuting , 1997 .

[6]  William E. Moritz,et al.  Survey of North American Bicycle Commuters: Design and Aggregate Results , 1997 .

[7]  D. Niemeier,et al.  Bicycle Journey-to-Work: Travel Behavior Characteristics and Spatial Attributes , 1997 .

[8]  E. Murakami,et al.  Can using global positioning system (GPS) improve trip reporting , 1999 .

[9]  J. Pucher,et al.  Bicycling renaissance in North America? Recent trends and alternative policies to promote bicycling , 1999 .

[10]  B E Ainsworth,et al.  Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. , 2000, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[11]  John Pucher,et al.  Making Walking and Cycling Safer: Lessons from Europe , 2000 .

[12]  E. K. Burns,et al.  Cycling to Work in Phoenix: Route Choice, Travel Behavior, and Commuter Characteristics , 2001 .

[13]  G. Hough,et al.  2006 Oregon Population Report , 2001 .

[14]  Michael Duncan,et al.  Walking, bicycling, and urban landscapes: evidence from the San Francisco Bay Area. , 2003, American journal of public health.

[15]  Chandra R. Bhat,et al.  Commuter Bicyclist Route Choice: Analysis Using a Stated Preference Survey , 2003 .

[16]  Harold W. Kohl,et al.  Prevalence of physical activity, including lifestyle activities among adults--United States, 2000-2001. , 2003, MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report.

[17]  L. Dijkstra,et al.  Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: lessons from The Netherlands and Germany. , 2003, American journal of public health.

[18]  Jennifer Dill,et al.  Bicycle Commuting and Facilities in Major U.S. Cities: If You Build Them, Commuters Will Use Them , 2003 .

[19]  Gary Feuerberg.  How Bike Paths and Lanes Make a Difference , 2004 .

[20]  P. Plaut.  Non-motorized commuting in the US , 2005 .

[21]  A. Cheadle,et al.  Cycling and the Built Environment, a US Perspective , 2005 .

[22]  John Pucher,et al.  Why Canadians cycle more than Americans: A comparative analysis of bicycling trends and policies , 2006 .

[23]  D. Levinson,et al.  TRAILS, LANES, OR TRAFFIC: VALUING BICYCLE FACILITIES WITH AN ADAPTIVE STATED PREFERENCE SURVEY , 2007 .

[24]  R. Meeusen,et al.  Determining the intensity and energy expenditure during commuter cycling , 2006, British Journal of Sports Medicine.

[25]  Kevin J. Krizek,et al.  A detailed analysis of how an urban trail system affects cyclists’ travel , 2007 .

[26]  Chris Rissel,et al.  Inverse associations between cycling to work, public transport, and overweight and obesity: findings from a population based study in Australia. , 2008, Preventive medicine.

[27]  Peter R. Stopher,et al.  Search for a global positioning system device to measure person travel , 2008 .

[28]  G. Rose,et al.  Promoting transportation cycling for women: the role of bicycle infrastructure. , 2008, Preventive medicine.