2013 Session: 735

• Travel Behavior Change After Introduction of Public Bicycle Systems: Case Study in Minhang District, Shanghai, China
  Abstract: The paper presents the first step of a series research on the characteristics of public bicycle users¡¯ travel behavior and the underlying mechanisms to support the development of public bicycle systems (PBS) in China. Based on a questionnaire survey in Minhang District, Shanghai, the paper focuses on travel behavior change after the introduction of the PBS. Using statistical analyses, it is found that people travel slightly more often than before when using PB; their travel distances are longer than expected. However, most users ride PB as a replacement of public transit, walking and private bicycle. Few modal shifts happened from car and moped/motocycle. Convenience contributes most to people¡¯s modal shift to PB, much more than the second and third most important factors, saving time and exercising, which is further confirmed by estimating a binary logit model explaining modal choice behavior between PB and other transport modes. The estimated travel utility gain based on the model turns out to be significant. The charging experiment reveals that charging PB rental fee can reduce PB use extensively, much more than compensating for long distance ride.
  Authors: Zhu, Wei; Pang, Yuqi; Wang, De; Timmermans, Harry J.P.
  Authors: Zhu, Wei; Pang, Yuqi; Wang, De; Timmermans, Harry J.P.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-0764
• Role of Commuter Benefits in Shaping Decision to Walk, Cycle, or Ride Transit to Work in Washington, D.C., Region
  Abstract: This study examines the relationship between commuter benefits and the likelihood to walk, cycle, or ride public transport to work in the Washington, DC region. The analysis examines individual level commute data along with information about multiple categories of commuter benefits, such as free car parking, public transport benefits and workplace facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. Data about full-time workers originate from the 2007/2008 Washington, DC Household Travel Survey. Results of a multinomial logistic regression model indicate that free car parking is significantly associated with lower levels of commuting by public transport as well as less walking and cycling to work. Public transport benefits are associated with higher levels of commuting by public transport as well as more walking and cycling to work. Benefits for walking and cycling are associated with higher levels of walking and cycling to work, as well as public transport use. Employees simultaneously offered free car parking, public transport benefits, and benefits for walking and cycling are significantly less likely to choose public transport. This suggests that free car parking may effectively counterweigh the incentives for walking, cycling, and public transport when benefit packages include free car parking alongside incentives for other modes. Results for control variables have expected signs and most are significant. Limitations of the study, relating to endogeneity, selection bias, and omitted variables, are discussed. These findings are consistent with other studies of commuting in the Washington, DC region as well as other studies of transportation mode choice and commuter benefits.
  Authors: Hamre, Andrea; Buehler, Ralph
  Authors: Hamre, Andrea; Buehler, Ralph
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-1429
• Using Bicycles for Daily Commuting in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Assessment of User Willingness Level with Spatial and Heterogeneity Considerations
  Abstract: The use of bicycles as a transportation mode for daily commuting trips has proven beneficial to both urban traffic conditions and travelers’ health. In order to efficiently design facilities and policies that will stimulate bicycle use, it is necessary to first understand people’s attitudes towards bicycle use, and the factors that may influence their preferences. Meanwhile, it should be expected that people’s willingness to use bicycles as their daily commuting mode is also subject to the influence of their neighbors and individual heterogeneity. This paper uses a spatial random parameter ordered probit model to analyze how travelers’ willingness to use bicycles is influenced by various socioeconomic factors in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with the consideration of spatial dependency and heterogeneity across individuals. The model is estimated using the composite marginal likelihood (CML) approach, and results show that bicycle use is more favored by travelers with lower household income, lower commuting time, and who rent apartments. If a person is currently using a bicycle or walking to work, he/she would be most willing to commute with a bicycle in the future. Those currently commuting bymotorcycle and bus follow this group in terms of willingness to commute by bicycle in the future.. Car users seem to be difficult to convert to bicycle users. Moreover, the estimation shows clear evidence that significant personal heterogeneity indeed exists, especially for education level, necessitating the consideration of such an effect. The analysis framework developed in this study as well as the findings provide valuable insights into people’s opinion towards the use of bicycles for daily transportation.
  Authors: Wang, Xiaokun (Cara); Zhang, Dapeng; Magalhães, David
  Authors: Wang, Xiaokun (Cara); Zhang, Dapeng; Magalhães, David
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-2846
• Social Dimensions of Walking: Understanding How Social Environment Influences Walking Trips
  Abstract: Walking is an important part of a healthy and active lifestyle, but in Canada and many other countries in the world there is a lack of walking. This lack of walking can lead to health problems and increased costs to taxpayers. Past research has examined how walking is influenced by the individual and physical environments, but few have focused on the social environment. The social environment is made up of companionship, encouragement, role models, and neighborhood social cohesion. This study examines how each component of the social environment influences walking while controlling for the individual and physical environments in Hamilton, Canada using a linear regression model. The results find walking alone (companionship) increases walking, having doctor requesting that they walk decreases walking, living in a close-knit neighborhood increases walking, and living in a neighborhood where people do not share the same value decreases walking.
  Authors: Clark, Andrew F.; Scott, Darren M.
  Authors: Clark, Andrew F.; Scott, Darren M.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-4223
• Consumer Behavior and Travel Choices: A Focus on Cyclists and Pedestrians
  Abstract: This paper aims to examine the links between consumer behavior and the mode of transportation used to access local destinations with the greater goal of providing the empirical evidence needed to inform decision making and educate the public. The findings presented here are the result of the first study of this type and scale in the United States. We limit our scope to the examination of the relationships between consumer expenditures and their trip making behavior, including mode of travel and frequency of trips. This analysis is guided by the following objectives: 1) quantifying the various transportation mode shares of customers for a variety of business types, locations and transportation contexts; and 2) comparing levels of consumer spending & frequency of visits by travel modes. This analysis made use of intercept surveys of local business completed at 78 establishments in the Portland metropolitan area. The findings support the notion that customers that arrive by modes other than the automobile are competitive consumers, spending similar amounts or more, on average, than their counterparts using automobiles. They are also more frequent patrons on average, presenting perhaps a unique marketing opportunity for these businesses.
  Authors: Clifton, Kelly J.; Currans, Kristina Marie; Muhs, Christopher; Ritter, Chloe; Morrissey, Sara; Roughton, Collin
  Authors: Clifton, Kelly J.; Currans, Kristina Marie; Muhs, Christopher; Ritter, Chloe; Morrissey, Sara; Roughton, Collin
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-4743
• Role of Commuter Benefits in Shaping Decision to Walk, Cycle, or Ride Transit to Work in Washington, D.C., Region
  Authors: Hamre, Andrea
  Authors: Hamre, Andrea
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-1429
• Using Bicycles for Daily Commuting in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Assessment of User Willingness Level with Spatial and Heterogeneity Considerations
  Authors: Zhang, Dapeng
  Authors: Zhang, Dapeng
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-2846
• Social Dimensions of Walking: Understanding How Social Environment Influences Walking Trips
  Authors: Clark, Andrew
  Authors: Clark, Andrew
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-4223
• Travel Behavior Change After Introduction of Public Bicycle Systems: Case Study in Minhang District, Shanghai, China
  Authors: Zhu, Wei
  Authors: Zhu, Wei
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 735
  Paper Number: 13-0764