Dear Colleagues,
We thought you would be interested in the results of a recent study that was supported by
Active Living
Research<http://www.activelivingresearch.org/> and the Oregon
Transportation Research and Education Consortium<http://www.otrec.us/> (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<http://www.activelivingresearch.org/node/12801>01>, read
Jennifer's Move!
blog<http://www.activelivingresearch.org/blog/2012/10/node/12800> on the ALR website
and access the full news
release<http://otrec.us/news/entry/bike_research_leading_to_smarter_regional_investments_easier_rides>.
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<mailto: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<mailto:amandawilson@ucsd.edu>
Website:
www.activelivingresearch.org<http://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.