Determinants of bicycle ownership and use: A case study of apartment residents in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Cycling can offer a range of benefits for individuals and society, yet factors influencing bicycle ownership and use are not well understood, particularly among apartment residents where the provision of bicycle parking is stipulated by planning requirements. A survey of 480 apartment residents was undertaken in Melbourne, Australia, with results analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression modelling. Results show that households owned 0.86 bicycles on average, much higher than the current bicycle parking requirement of 0.2 spaces per household for new apartment developments. Additionally, 28% of respondents reported using a bicycle in the last week. Factors associated with bicycle ownership and use included various socio-demographics, attitudes, preferences, and built environment and transport characteristics. In general, these factors were far more extensive than previous studies that have considered all housing types together. Notably, the availability of off-street bicycle parking was found to increase the odds of an apartment household owning one bicycle, compared with none, by more than two times. The results imply that increasing bicycle ownership and use among apartment residents requires a multifaceted approach, including adequate bicycle parking requirements that vary both spatially and by apartment size, along with programs and events that can foster positive attitudes towards cycling.