The encouragement and promotion of cycling is still an emerging field. Research into the area of cycle encouragement helps to refine techniques to ensure they are an effective means of increasing cycle participation. The following research papers are offered to assist practitioners maximise the effectiveness of their programs.
Australia
- Cycling to Work in Sydney - analysis of journey to work Censis data from 2001-2006
New, C. & Rissel, C. (2008) Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service
The present analyses were conducted to examine whether there have been changes in levels of cycling in Sydney between the 2001 and 2006 Census, extending an earlier analysis of data from the 1996 and 2001 Census. Data on the journey to work from both Censuses were purchased from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Use of a bicycle on any part of the journey to work was coded as ‘bicycle used’. Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in the Sydney area were coded as Inner Sydney if they were within 10 kilometres of Central Station in Sydney, Outer Sydney for the remaining Sydney SLAs and the rest as the Greater Metropolitan Region including the SLAs in Newcastle and Wollongong.
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- Cycling: Getting Australia Moving: Barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling
Bauman, A. Rissel, C. Garrard, J. Ker, I. Speidel, R. and Fishman, E. (2008) Cycling Promotion Fund, Melbourne
In August 2007, the Cycling Promotion Fund was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to develop a report on bicycle participation by Australian adults.
The Cycling Promotion Fund was specifically asked to investigate the contribution cycling can make to the health of adult Australians, what barriers exist to increasing participation and what can be done to overcome these hurdles.
The Cycling Promotion Fund engaged four notable academics/practitioners from the fields of health, transport and economics to address these questions.
Full Report (3.1 Mb) - View PDF
Executive Summary (1.7 Mb)View PDF - Cycling for active transport and recreation in Australia: Status review and future directions
Rissel, C., Garrard, J., 2006, Vol. 13, p. 49 – 63, World Transport Policy and Practice, UK
This paper reviews the position of the bicycle in Australia, as a form of transport and recreation. The paper identifies the various influences on people’s decision to ride and highlights gender differences in participation and requirements. It is a helpful tool for planners to better understand how to encourage greater cycling participation in Australia.
View PDF - Safety in numbers in Australia: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling
Robinson, D.L., 2005, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Vol. 16, Issue 1, p. 47-51
This Australian study finds that as the numbers of cyclists increase, rates of injury reduce.
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- Mass community cycling events: who participates and is their behaviour influenced by participation?
Bowles, H.R., Rissel, C., Bauman, A., 2006, The International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vo. 2, Issue 39
This research paper investigates the type of people participating in mass cycling events and the subsequent effect on cycling behaviour.
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Department of Human Services, 2004, Victorian Government, Melbourne
This comprehensive document outlines the most effective health promotion strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Cycling features throughout the document for its ability to reduce the level of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in the community.
View PDF - Cycling promotion in Western Australia
Greig, R., 2005, Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce, Presentation given at Planning for Healthy Communities Conference, Brisbane, October.
This presentation gauges the view from cyclists and non-cyclists regarding the factors that encourage and discourage cycling amongst the public.
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- Creating a city that works: Opportunities and solutions for a more sustainable Melbourne
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, 2007, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victorian Government, Melbourne
This position paper from the Victorian Government appointed Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability refocuses the need for people to be at the centre of transport and land use planning. The recommendations contained in this landmark paper, although intended for Melbourne, are broadly relevant to any car dependent city.
View PDF - Using the concept of Effective Speed as a stimulus for travel behaviour change and policy development
Tranter, P., May, M., 2005, University of New South Wales for the Australian Greenhouse Office, Australian Government
Effective speed incorporates the time required to earn the money to cover all the costs associated with car ownership and use into vehicle speed. This calculation results in some surprising effective speeds for different modes of transport. Bicycles emerge as one of the fastest forms of transport.
View PDF - Encouraging cycling through a pilot cycling proficiency training program among adults in central Sydney
Telfer, B., Rissel, C., Bindon, J., Bosch, T., 2006, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol. 9, p. 151 – 156
This paper evaluates the effectiveness of bicycle proficiency training on future rates of riding participation.
View PDF - Bikes and travel behaviour change – a transport engineers perspective
Rose, G., 2003, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University, Melbourne. Presentation at Connecting Cycling, Canberra, 20 - 21 November
This presentation explores the balance between travel behaviour change programs such as TravelSmart, with other methods of encouragement, such as bicycle infrastructure improvements.
View PDF - Using a ride to work day event to promote travel behaviour change
Rose, G., Marfurt, H., Harbutt, P., 2003, Presented at the 26th Australasian Transport Research Forum, Wellington, New Zealand, October 1 -3
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International
- Shinkle, D. & Teigen, A. (2008) "Encouraging Bicycling and Walking - The State Legislative Role", National Conference of State Legislatures: The Forum for America's Ideas, Washington USA
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The report first provides an overview of recent trends in bicycling and walking and the related transportation, economic, public and environmental health benefits. A snapshot of the current state of bicycling and walking in the United States follows. Subsequent chapters examine state legislative activity in three key areas: funding, planning and safety. - Spreekmeester, R., Wittink, R., Van Den Berg, J., 2000, The economic significance of cycling: A study to illustrate the costs and benefits of cycling policy, VNG Uitgeverij, The Hague.
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An important, unique contribution, this document assesses the various costs and benefits of cycling. Their wide ranging analysis covers the costs of traffic and infrastructure, economic considerations and the health and environmental benefits of cycling, to name just a few. - Whitelegg, J., undated, Dirty from cradle to grave.
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Leading sustainable transport expert, Professor John Whitelegg explains the environmental and health impacts of car production and use, from cradle to grave. - All-cause mortality associated with physical activity during leisure time, work, sports, and cycling to work
Andersen, L.B., et al., 2000, Archives of Internal Medicine, 160(11): p. 1621-1628
This highly regarded Danish study assessed the health status of 30,000 people over a 14 year period to measure the health benefits of cycling. The researchers found that, with all other factors being equal, simply cycling to work lowered the risk of death by 40%.
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Dora, C., Phillips, M., 2000, World Health Organisation, Regional Publications, European Series No. 89, Copenhagen
A landmark publication on the inter-relationship between transport, health and the environment. This paper offers a comprehensive outline of the importance of reducing car use and increasing the proportion of trips conducted by active modes of transport.
View PDF - Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling
Jacobsen, P.L., 2003, Injury Prevention, Vol. 9, pp. 205-209
This paper found that as the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists increase, the level of road traffic injury reduces. It concludes by saying that policies that increase the level of walking and cycling improve their level of safety.
Visit Site - Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation for achieving mobility management objectives
Litman, T., 2004, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada
This paper outlines the numerous benefits associated with active transport modes such as cycling. It discusses the methods available to quantify the social, economic, environmental and transport benefits of cycling.
View PDF - Win-win transportation solutions: Smart transportation strategies can achieve emission reduction targets and provide other important economic, social and environmental benefits
Litman, T., 2007, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada
This paper introduces a range of market-based policy reforms aimed at increasing transport efficiency, improving health and reducing emissions.
View PDF - Cycling is for everyone: The key to public and political support
Pucher, J., 2007, Rutgers University, New Jersey
A presentation by one of the world’s leading transport academics on the relationship between transport and health, with a particular focus on cycling. This presentation provides a comprehensive set of data and imagery outlining the importance of increasing rates of cycling and what needs to be done to make it happen.
View PDF - Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Lessons from the Netherlands and Germany
Pucher, J., Dijkstra, L., 2003, American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 93, No. 9
This research paper assesses the public health consequences of unsafe and unattractive walking and cycling amenity. It does this through an examination of conditions in US cities and compares them to the Netherlands and Germany. This paper is instructive to Australian and New Zealand planners despite its US and European focus.
View PDF - Sustrans, 2006, Economic appraisal of local walking and cycling routes, Sustrans, Bristol, UK.
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A UK based assessment of the economic benefits of active transport modes such as cycling. Using the UK Government’s method of evaluating the economic benefits of transport, walking and cycling are demonstrated as having a 20:1 cost benefit ratio. - Sustrans, 2006, Methodology used in the economic appraisal of local walking and cycling routes, Sustrans, Bristol, UK.
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Explains the methodology used in the economic appraisal of local walking and cycling routes, Sustrans, Bristol, UK.
- Gleason, R. (2008) GUIDE TO PROMOTING BICYCLING ON FEDERAL LANDS, Publication No. FHWA-CFL/TD-08-007, September 2008, US Federal Highway Administration
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Federal lands, including units of the National Park Service, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and Bureau of Land Management lands, are at a critical juncture. Increasing numbers of automobiles in some areas have led to congestion, poor air quality, damage to natural resources, and degraded visitor experience. At the same time, growth in the number of bicyclists on some of the most scenic roadways has led to motorist–bicyclist conflicts and concern for everyone’s safety. Increased fuel costs and climate change have spawned efforts to reduce fuel consumption and minimize the "carbon footprint" of Federal land agencies. Sixty-one percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese and childhood obesity rates are soaring (U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, 2006). Non-motorized transportation and recreation networks are one part of the solution to these issues. -
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) (2009) Development of Boulder's Multimodal System
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What steps must a city take once its leaders decide to encourage more transportation options to reduce reliance on car travel? -
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), (2009) Sunday Parkways: Helping Minority Communities Connect to Bicycling and Walking
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In communities that lack a culture of physical activity, how can walking and bicycling become part of the solution to health issues? Effectively promoting bicycling, walking, and physical activity in Chicago's Latino and African-American communities is challenging unless advocates take the time to understand community issues and form partnerships. -
Royal, D. & Miller-Steiger, D. (2008) National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, VOLUME I SUMMARY REPORT, U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Behavioral Safety Research
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National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and administered by The Gallup Organization. Provides a top line summary of key data results regarding the behaviors and attitudes on various topics related to walking and bicycling including reported frequency of walking and bicycling during the summer months, trip purpose and characteristics, perceptions of safety, safety practices, facilities available and community design. -
Steer Davies Gleave (2008), Report for Transport for London - "CYCLING IN LONDON"
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This summary highlights key findings from a review of well over one hundred studies connected with cycling, ranging from qualitative research to large scale travel surveys such as the LTDS (London Travel Demand Survey).
Increasing cycling in London is integral to the vision to develop London as an exemplary sustainable world city [10, 2004]. This is because there are substantial economic, health and personal benefits associated with cycling, which could potentially be incorporated into everyday life for 28% of Londoners with access to a bike [66, 2004]. -
Martens, K. (2007) "Promoting bike-and-ride: The Dutch experience", Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Volume 41, Issue 4, May 2007, Pages 326-338. Research paper available for purchase from Science Direct
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The number of policy initiatives to promote the use of bike-and-ride, or the combined use of bicycle and public transport for one trip, has grown considerably over the past decade as part of the search for more sustainable transport solutions. This paper discusses the experiences with, and impacts of, such initiatives in the Netherlands. The Dutch measures to promote bicycle use in access trips have been generally successful. A country-wide program to upgrade regular and secure bicycle parking at train stations has led to an increase in user satisfaction and a growth in bicycles parked at stations. - Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre, Case Studies - Creating Active Rural Communities, Haliburton County, Ontario - Contact: Sue Shikaze, Health Promoter, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Box 570, 191 Highland St, Unit 301, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0, susans@haliburton.hkpr.on.ca
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There are many challenges unique to creating active communities in rural places, and yet there is very little literature or research to guide a community that pursues this goal. Some of the obstacles a rural community faces include large distances between destinations (20 km/12 miles or more); a prevalent "car culture"; an extensive road network and a small tax base, so that the focus on transportation is to maintain existing roads for cars, rather than to create or improve walking or cycling infrastructure; and limited capacity or expertise within municipal governments (staff and elected representatives) to make planning for active communities a priority. - Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre, Case Studies - Intermodal Transportation Planning and Development: A closer look at linking transit to bicycling and walking Tucson, Arizona - Contact: Tom Fisher, Project Manager, Transit Services Division, City of Tucson, 149 N. Stone, 2nd Floor, Tucson, AZ 85726, (520)791-5883, tom.fisher@tucsonaz.gov
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Can communities reduce the length or number of car trips by making better intermodal connections? An intermodal trip involves more than one type of transportation, such as walking and transit, bicycling and transit, or driving and transit. Communities interested in offering commuters more transportation choices in an age of rising gas prices and concern about climate change can learn from the plans, policies and programs implemented by the City of Tucson.
