Transcript Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland Characteristics of new Queensland cyclists Amy Schramm & Narelle Haworth [email protected]; [email protected] INTRODUCTION METHODS Various state and local.

Centre for Accident Research &
Road Safety - Queensland
Characteristics of new Queensland cyclists
Amy Schramm & Narelle Haworth
[email protected]; [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
Various state and local government initiatives have been
implemented to encourage Australians to ride bicycles.
Decreasing the number of trips taken by motor vehicle
has benefits for the both the individual and the
community, including health, congestion and
environmental benefits. This research examined who the
new cyclists are, how much and where they ride.
A survey of 2,532 Queensland adults who had ridden at
least once in the past year was conducted from October
2009 to March 2010, with most responses received
online (99.3%). New Riders were those who reported
riding regularly in 2008 and 2009 but not in 2005, 2006
and 2007. Continuing Riders reported riding regularly in
all of the years 2005 to 2009.
40%
Average Hours Ridden in
a Week
8
Average Kilometres
Travelled in a Week
200
30%
6
150
20%
4
100
2
50
0
0
Age Distribution of Riders
10%
0%
18-24
25-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70+
■ New Riders
■ Continuing Riders
Preference for Riding Location
Primary Purpose for Riding
60%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Utilitarian
Social
Fitness
Choose Reluctantly Choose Reluctantly
footpaths
use
bike paths use bike
footpaths
paths
Choose
urban
roads
Reluctantly
use urban
roads
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
Approximately one fifth (21%) of the survey participants
were New Riders, 53% were Continuing Riders and 26%
did not fall into either group. New Riders were more
likely than Continuing Riders to be female (33% vs 20%)
and to self-report ‘basic’ or ‘competent’ bicycle handling
skills (84% vs 45%). New Riders were slightly less likely
to have been injured when cycling in the last two years
(non-crash injuries 67% vs 61%; crash injuries 39% vs
33%). Both groups ride a similar proportion of kilometres
on footpaths despite different location preferences.
New riders make up a significant number of current
cyclists, indicating that recent initiatives to promote
cycling are working. New Riders are more likely to be
aged under 40 and female than Continuing Riders.
Economic pressures and environmental awareness may
explain why more New Riders primarily ride for utilitarian
reasons. New Riders prefer footpaths and bike paths,
possibly because they are seen as safer. This supports
provision of off-road facilities to promote further uptake
of cycling.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by a Queensland Health Trauma Research Grant
The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland