Much-Anticipated Marriage of Cycling and Transit

Abstract

In response to the environmental, economic, and social costs associated with overreliance on the automobile, planners and transportation professionals are promoting sustainable alternatives such as walking, cycling, and public transit, either as single modes or in combination. It has been argued that the marriage between cycling and transit presents opportunities for synergy by enlarging catchment areas of transit stations while drawing in new users to both of these green modes. However, because of the marginality of combining cycling and transit in North America, there is a shortage of reliable empirical studies in this area. The present study addressed this gap through an analysis of travel behavior and preferences related to cycle–transit (C-T) integration. An online survey was conducted in the region of Montreal, Canada, during the summer of 2010. The questionnaire included a section on Montreal's public bicycle sharing system, Bixi (bicycle taxi), and its potential for integration with transit. Three current or potential C-T user groups were identified through a factor–cluster analysis: current parking bike-and-riders, Bixi users, and car drivers. Bringing a bicycle on transit was the preferred form of integration; however, scenarios involving bicycle parking (or using a public bicycle) were likely to be used more regularly. To accommodate the greatest number of bicycle–transit trips, measures that facilitated parking at transit stops and those that enabled the bringing of bicycles on board transit vehicles were recommended in tandem.

Bicycle-Transit Integration in the United States, 2001–2009

“…Perhaps due to the marginality of combining cycling and transit in North America, there is a shortage of reliable data and empirical studies on bicycle-transit integra tion (Bachand-Marleau et al 2011). For example, as of 2005, few transit agencies had collected detailed data about bicycle-on-transit rider characteristics or bicycle parking use (TRB 2005).…”

Commuter Mode Choice and Free Car Parking, Public Transportation Benefits, Showers/Lockers, and Bike Parking at Work: Evidence from the Washington, DC Region

“…More commonly, studies focusing on cycling and walking assess the effect of facilities and services such as bicycle parking, workplace showers, and shared-use paths (Dill and Wardell 2007;Buehler 2012). In many studies, public transportation, walking, and cycling are considered complementary (Bachand-Marleau, Larsen, and El-Geneidy 2011;Pucher 2004). However, Boyd et al (2003) found a decrease in walking and cycling to campus after the fare-free public transportation program's introduction.…”

Built environment determinants of bicycle volume: A longitudinal analysis

“…Many existing bicycle studies focus on identifying built environment factors that affect the bicycle use. These studies have discussed ways to encourage more bicycle use, such as building separated cycle tracks (Buehler & Pucher, 2012;Thomas & DeRobertis, 2013;Winters, Davidson, Kao, & Teschke, 2011), launching public bike sharing programs (Heinen, van Wee, & Maat, 2010;Shaheen, Guzman, & Zhang, 2010), promoting integration with public transit (Bachand-Marleau, Larsen, & El-Geneidy, 2011), and reducing vehicle parking in city centers (Shoup, 2005).…”