Does One Bicycle Facility Type Fit All? Evaluating the Stated Usage of Different Types of Bicycle Facilities among Cyclists in Quebec City, Canada

Abstract

For cities wishing to foster a strong culture of cycling, developing a network of safe and efficient bicycle infrastructure is paramount, yet not a straightforward task. Once transport professionals have selected the optimal location for a new bicycle facility, determining the optimal facility type is imperative to ensure that the new infrastructure encourages cycling trips and increases the safety of cyclists. The present study presents a nuanced approach to evaluating cyclists’ usage of various types of bicycle facilities. To achieve this goal, we employed survey data of cyclists in Quebec City, Canada, to study how many cyclists reported using a particular bicycle facility in the survey against their reasonable access to those reported facilities. To account for different preferences, behavior, and motivations among cyclists, we segmented our study sample into six types of cyclist. Finally, regression modeling was employed to predict the stated usage of three facility types present in the study area (recreational path, bi-directional protected lane, and painted lane), while controlling for access to this path, cyclist type, and personal and neighborhood characteristics. Results indicate that if a cyclist has access to each facility type on their commute, they are most likely to use a recreational path on their commute, followed by a painted bicycle lane. Respondents with access to a bi-directional lane are no more likely to report using this facility than respondents without access. Overall, this study is intended to encourage a dialog between cyclists and transport practitioners to uncover the factors contributing to effective bicycle infrastructure.