Abstract
This study uses cluster analysis on a sample of regular cyclists from six European countries (the U.K., the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Spain) to shed light on common cycling patterns, demographic characteristics, and attitudes. Participants completed an online survey on cycling behaviour, attitudes towards cycling, discomfort while cycling in mixed traffic, cycling environment and comparative cycling risk perception. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify segments of cyclists based on cycling patterns, and a multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to profile the segments. The two-step cluster analysis yielded three components. Leisure-time cyclists cycled almost exclusively for leisure/training, had a clear preference for car use relative to bicycle, and low riding frequency. Resolute Cyclists were characterised by a high variety of cycling trip purpose, a clear preference for bicycle use relative to the car, and high riding frequency. Convenience Cyclists were characterised by cycling for personal business or leisure/training but not for commuting, no evident preference for bicycle vs car, and medium riding frequency. The value of the present study is to highlight commonalities in patterns, characteristics, and attitudes of cyclists in Europe. Our study showed that cycling patterns and habits are linked to psychosocial variables such as attitudes and the cycling environment, explicitly highlighting the importance of discomfort in mixed traffic and the relationship with cycling culture.
Highlights
Using the bicycle as a primary or complementary mode of transportation is acknowledged to have multiple benefits both in terms of people’s health and wellbeing (Götschi et al 2016; Kelly et al 2014) as well as achieving cheaper costs both for the individual1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)Transportation and the community and less environmental pollution
Based on the above considerations, the present study aimed to address the research gap previously highlighted in the literature, explicitly identifying naturally occurring segments in a population of cyclists in six different European countries (U.K., The Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Spain) basing on cycling patterns and profiling such groups according to demographics and sociopsychological variables
Since factor 2 assessed the feeling of discomfort when using cycling infrastructure, providing some protection from motorised traffic, we focused on factor 1 to assess the discomfort of cycling in mixed traffic
Summary
Using the bicycle as a primary or complementary mode of transportation is acknowledged to have multiple benefits both in terms of people’s health and wellbeing (Götschi et al 2016; Kelly et al 2014) as well as achieving cheaper costs both for the individual1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)Transportation and the community and less environmental pollution (de Nazelle et al 2011; Macmillan et al 2014). In recent years, studies using attitude-based segmentation to promote environmentally sustainable transport have increased (Haustein and Hunecke 2007). An insightful literature review from Haustein and Hunecke (2007) compares attitudinal, sociodemographic, geographical and behavioural segmentation criteria in multiple studies. The authors highlighted some limitations in the current literature: firstly, the studies that have been considered in the review focus on one single city or country, not allowing to profile segments in terms of countries and identify meaningful cross-boarder differences. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that studies in different countries use different approaches to segmentation as well Commonalities and interplay between sociodemographic, spatial and attitudinal variables should be further investigated according to Haustein and Hunecke (2007)
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