Understanding the Bicycling Behavior of a Student Population: A Case Study in the University of Washington's College of Built Environments

Abstract

Bicycling behavior has proven to be related to a variety of factors, including the physical environment, social environment, trip characteristics, and individual attributes. The use of bikes therefore varies greatly across social groups. This thesis focuses on the bicycling behavior of students from University of Washington’s (UW) College of Built Environments (CBE). This student group was selected because they are receiving an education that centers urban and natural environments. The study intends to articulate their bicycling patterns, understand factors that are related to their bicycling behavior, and investigate whether the CBE culture they are exposed to shapes their bicycling choices. Based on findings from a survey (N=88) and in-depth interviews (N=17), this study examined the group’s commuting and non-commuting bicycling behavior. This research found that the majority of respondents could be characterized as confident cyclists who are relatively comfortable bicycling in vehicular traffic and with less decent bike facilities, and the bicycling infrastructure in Seattle is not a barrier to their cycling. The study also identified factors that influenced respondents non-commuting bicycling, including the influence of family role models, family encouragement, companionship, and a sense of belonging to a cyclist group. The study identified several patterns of establishing regular cycling behavior among this student group, and suggests the importance of creating better cycling culture to encourage more biking trips.