The factors influencing bicycling in the Bangalore city

• Published in: Transportation research. Part A, Policy and practice Policy and practice, 2016-07, Vol.89, p.29-40
• Main Authors: Verma, Meghna, Rahul, T.M., Reddy, Peesari Vamshidhar, Verma, Ashish
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude; Bicycles; Bicycling; Infrastructure; Intersections; Lanes; Maintenance; Motivation; Perception; Physical infrastructure; Pictures; Policies; Social norms
• ISSN: 0965-8564; 1879-2375
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2016.04.006

•Analysis of the variations in factors correlated with cycling.•Determination of the prominent factors influencing non-cyclists.•Formulation of specific policies to promote bicycling for urban commute.•Need for changing the attitude of people towards cycling.•Need for segregated cycle lanes and signals at intersections. Bicycling, in an urban context, have many benefits, compared with motorized transports, like reduced carbon footprint, and lower maintenance, health, social and infrastructural costs. The present paper analyses the various factors contributing to a low percentage of bicycling in the Bangalore city and elicits certain policy aspects to improve the attractiveness of bicycling. The study focuses mainly on the behavioral aspects of commuters pertaining to their childhood and current scenario, and uses a face-to-face questionnaire survey for data collection. These behavioral aspects indicated a commuter’s perception about social expectation, convenience and bicycling infrastructure using a 5-point Likert scale measurement. Information is also collected about factors that might motivate bicycling, and about demographic variables like age, gender, income, etc. The study used a statistical z-test to identify the most influential attitudinal factors and to check whether the various factors are significantly different. The results gave a clear picture about the most dominant attitudinal factors that resulted in the stoppage of bicycling during a commuter’s childhood, and that acted as a deterrent to their bicycle usage in a current scenario. The study determined a need for changing the attitude of people towards cycling by programs that would create a positive image for cycling. There was also a need for segregated cycle lanes and signals at intersections so that people could feel safe while travelling on cycles.