How perceptions of road safety influence bicycling intentions and behavior in Canadian cities
Author(s): Thigpen, Winters, Fischer, Therrien, Fuller, Gauvin, Whitehurst, Nelson
Slidedeck Presentation Only (no paper submitted):
Abstract:
Bicycling for transportation is promoted as a way to increase physical activity as well as reduce emissions related to transportation. Many cities are making major investments in bicycling infrastructure in hopes of shifting transportation trends away from car-dependency; however, such investments (particularly in smaller and mid-sized cities) have been largely unstudied, especially with respect to how they alleviate barriers to bicycling. We sought to characterize the population of three medium-sized Canadian cities according to their bicycling intent and behavior as well as to understand how perception of road safety influences individuals' bicycling intention and use. We completed a population-based survey in three medium-sized Canadian cities (843 residents in Victoria, British Columbia; 824 in Kelowna, British Columbia; and 766 in Halifax, Nova Scotia) in fall 2016. We classified survey respondents into five categories of bicycle use and intention according to the Trans-Theoretical Model of Behaviour Change (TTM), which is a psychological model designed to understand and explain health behaviour change. We analyzed the association between perceptions of road safety and TTM stage membership using bivariate comparisons. Across all three cities, 31% of respondents are 'Pre-contemplation' individuals who are not actively considering bicycling. Ten percent were classified as 'Contemplation' individuals who have begun considering riding a bike, and eleven percent were in the 'Preparation' stage, based on their strong interest in beginning to bicycle. Therefore, two-fifths of residents living in mid-sized Canadian cities who do not ride a bicycle express a desire to begin bicycling. Forty-three percent were in the 'Action' stage, having ridden a bike once in the last 12 months, and 5% were 'Maintenance' individuals who usually rode a bike to get around.
Road safety perceptions were associated with TTM stage. Specifically, fear of traffic or motor vehicle collisions was associated with membership in the first four TTM stages, with over 40% of individuals in the first four stages stating that they this fear was very important to their decision to ride a bicycle. The presence of separated bicycle lanes along a route was important (somewhat or very) to a majority of individuals from all five stages, but particularly for those in the Contemplation and Preparation stages. The presence of a connected network of bicycle routes through the city was important (somewhat or very) to individuals from all five stages, though particularly for individuals beyond the Pre-contemplation stage. Categorizing individuals'' intention to bicycle and bicycling behavior according to the TTM allows for a better understanding of barriers specific to each TTM stage, and consequently the development of targeted interventions. Furthermore, addressing these road safety concerns appears to be non-controversial: there was widespread support for cycling infrastructure amongst cyclists and non-cyclists; 86% in Victoria, 95% in Kelowna, and 87% in Halifax indicated that building more cycling infrastructure was a good idea. Road safety concerns are stronger for individuals belonging to earlier TTM stages (i.e. Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, and Preparation), but a desire for protected bike lanes and a complete bike network is relatively universal.'