Investigating Behavior of Active Cyclists Influences on Bicycle Commuting

The behavior of active cyclists in Japan and their motivations for cycling were investigated. In Japan, bicycles were often used either as the main transportation mode or as part of a multimodal journey. However, few Japanese transportation policies and strategies address cycling. The current investigation thus addressed the reasons why people cycled although the cycling system had yet to achieve high levels of service. Commuters' views on cycling were investigated in a behavioral analysis. In a statistical analysis, discrete choice models were estimated to assess the factors that had a strong influence on cycling. Results of the behavioral and statistical analyses are discussed with a focus on unimodal commuting trips. The findings of the models suggest that the single-person household type influences the choice of nonmotorized modes and that owning a car is not significant when people choose to cycle. Those who regularly cycle to perform other activities and those who regularly exercise are more likely to commute by bicycle. The possibility of sharing sidewalk space with pedestrians appears to have a strong positive impact on cycling. In addition, longer distances to public transport stations motivate the use of bicycle in multimodal journeys. The insight gained can be used by transport planners and government bodies in Japan and elsewhere in planning for more cycling-friendly cities.