The multiple impacts of the neighbourhood environment on the use of public bicycles by residents: an empirical study of Changwon in Korea

Abstract

Recently, there has been growing, worldwide interest in bicycle use as an eco-friendly transportation mode. The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of neighbourhood environments on the use of public bicycles by residents based on a case study from Changwon, one of the world's leading cities in terms of its public bicycle system. The study conducted a survey in order to collect data, and a hierarchical linear model provided statistical analysis. A total of 276 local residents in an urban area of Changwon made up the sample size. Results of the analysis show that public bicycle use to commute or go to school was influenced by public bicycle infrastructure, such as public bicycle terminals and bicycle lanes. In detail, as the distance from residences to public bicycle terminals and bicycle lanes became closer than 100 metres, the probability of residents using a public bicycle to commute or go to school increased by 4.48% and 7.80%, respectively. In addition, shorter distances to work or school increased the use of public bicycles to commute or go to school. Thus, the job–housing balance was verified to be a crucial factor in revitalizing public bicycle use. In addition, how residents perceive the quality of their neighbourhood environment affects their public bicycle use. Therefore, in an effort to encourage public bicycle use, planners should consider qualitative factors such as enhancing the quality of bicycle lanes, bike facilities, and the diversity of the street environment, as well as land use and accessibility to facilities.