Bicycling to Rail Stations in New Jersey

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to document the conditions of the built environment and the characteristics of commuters who bicycle to rail stations in New Jersey. This research was quantified through several data-collection activities: ( a) observational counts of bicycle-to-rail commuters, ( b) inventories of bicycle infrastructure, ( c) an intercept survey of bicycle-to-rail commuters, and ( d) a focus group of bicycle-to-rail commuters. These data showed that bicycling to rail stations was an important yet underserved part of the commuter network in New Jersey. The data also showed that improvements to bicycling infrastructure at and around stations were vital to increase the rate of bicycle-to-rail commuters. Together, these activities provided detailed information about bicycle-to-rail commuters, as well as a benchmark for the evaluation of future conditions. The study found that those who bicycled to stations typically were male, white, and between the ages of 25 and 44 years. Most of these riders had earned college or postgraduate degrees and were members of a high-earning household. Survey and focus group participants were concerned mostly about safety on roads and at stations. Participants advocated for more bicycle lanes, on-street lighting, police security at stations, and better bicycle parking. Finally, the station inventory revealed that bicycle parking could be expanded at some stations to and from which bicycling was popular. The road inventory showed that most roads had speed limits at or below 25 mph and fewer than four lanes. However, just 2% had any on-street bicycle infrastructure.