Dear Colleagues,

We thought you would be interested in the results of a recent study that was supported by Active Living Research and the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC).  The study was the first to gather large-scale data that reveal cyclists’ actual route preference and is being published in a scientific journal (Transportation Research Part A).

In the study, Portland State University researchers Joseph Broach, Jennifer Dill and John Gliebe (Gliebe is now with RSG Inc.) outfitted cyclists with GPS units to record which routes they chose and model the choices to reveal preferences.  The research determined not only the attractiveness of bike lanes, paths and bike boulevards, but also the effect of intersection design, turns and slope—factors that proved to be as important as the bike facility itself. While some assume that cyclists take the most direct route to any destination, the research found that cyclists take significant detours to use separated bike paths and bike boulevards. The study is the first to examine bike boulevards, the low-traffic neighborhood streets tailored for cycling.

Some of the key findings:

· Separated bike paths are equivalent to reducing trip distance by 26 percent, bike boulevards by 18 percent.

· Cyclists are willing to detour 16 percent of their trip distance to avoid a left turn at a busy intersection without a traffic light.

· Each additional turn is equal to adding 7 percent of the trip distance.

For more information about the study and results, we encourage you to download the one-page research summary, read Jennifer’s Move! blog on the ALR website and access the full news release.  Please also pass this along to any other colleagues who may be interested and/or contact Justin if you are able to assist with broader dissemination.    

Media Contact:

Justin Carinci

P: 503-725-2843

E: carinci@otrec.us

Healthy Regards,

Amanda

Amanda Wilson, M.S.R.S.

Research Coordinator

Active Living Research

University of California, San Diego

3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310

San Diego, CA 92103

Phone: 619-260-5538

Fax: 619-260-1510

Email: amandawilson@ucsd.edu

Website: www.activelivingresearch.org

Active Living Research is a national program office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation building the evidence to prevent childhood obesity and support active communities.