IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/transp/v49y2022i2d10.1007_s11116-021-10187-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A cluster analysis of cyclists in Europe: common patterns, behaviours, and attitudes

Author

Listed:
  • Federico Fraboni

    (University of Bologna)

  • Gabriele Prati

    (University of Bologna)

  • Giulia Casu

    (University of Bologna)

  • Marco De Angelis

    (University of Bologna)

  • Luca Pietrantoni

    (University of Bologna)

Abstract

This study uses cluster analysis on a sample of regular cyclists from six European countries (the U.K., the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Spain) to shed light on common cycling patterns, demographic characteristics, and attitudes. Participants completed an online survey on cycling behaviour, attitudes towards cycling, discomfort while cycling in mixed traffic, cycling environment and comparative cycling risk perception. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify segments of cyclists based on cycling patterns, and a multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to profile the segments. The two-step cluster analysis yielded three components. Leisure-time cyclists cycled almost exclusively for leisure/training, had a clear preference for car use relative to bicycle, and low riding frequency. Resolute Cyclists were characterised by a high variety of cycling trip purpose, a clear preference for bicycle use relative to the car, and high riding frequency. Convenience Cyclists were characterised by cycling for personal business or leisure/training but not for commuting, no evident preference for bicycle vs car, and medium riding frequency. The value of the present study is to highlight commonalities in patterns, characteristics, and attitudes of cyclists in Europe. Our study showed that cycling patterns and habits are linked to psychosocial variables such as attitudes and the cycling environment, explicitly highlighting the importance of discomfort in mixed traffic and the relationship with cycling culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Federico Fraboni & Gabriele Prati & Giulia Casu & Marco De Angelis & Luca Pietrantoni, 2022. "A cluster analysis of cyclists in Europe: common patterns, behaviours, and attitudes," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 591-620, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:49:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s11116-021-10187-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-021-10187-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11116-021-10187-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11116-021-10187-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Song, Yena & Preston, John & Ogilvie, David, 2017. "New walking and cycling infrastructure and modal shift in the UK: A quasi-experimental panel study," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 320-333.
    2. Muñoz, Begoña & Monzon, Andres & López, Elena, 2016. "Transition to a cyclable city: Latent variables affecting bicycle commuting," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 4-17.
    3. Zain Ul-Abdin & Pieter De Winne & Hans De Backer, 2019. "Risk-Perception Formation Considering Tangible and Non-Tangible Aspects of Cycling: A Flemish Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Vij, Akshay & Gorripaty, Sreeta & Walker, Joan L., 2017. "From trend spotting to trend ’splaining: Understanding modal preference shifts in the San Francisco Bay Area," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 238-258.
    5. Kuhnimhof, Tobias & Buehler, Ralph & Wirtz, Matthias & Kalinowska, Dominika, 2012. "Travel trends among young adults in Germany: increasing multimodality and declining car use for men," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 443-450.
    6. Jensen, Mette, 1999. "Passion and heart in transport -- a sociological analysis on transport behaviour," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 19-33, January.
    7. Yusak Susilo & Kees Maat, 2007. "The influence of built environment to the trends in commuting journeys in the Netherlands," Transportation, Springer, vol. 34(5), pages 589-609, September.
    8. Prillwitz, Jan & Barr, Stewart, 2011. "Moving towards sustainability? Mobility styles, attitudes and individual travel behaviour," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1590-1600.
    9. Maarten Kroesen & Susan Handy, 2014. "The relation between bicycle commuting and non-work cycling: results from a mobility panel," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 507-527, May.
    10. Susan Handy & Bert van Wee & Maarten Kroesen, 2014. "Promoting Cycling for Transport: Research Needs and Challenges," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 4-24, January.
    11. Thomas Götschi & Jan Garrard & Billie Giles-Corti, 2016. "Cycling as a Part of Daily Life: A Review of Health Perspectives," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1), pages 45-71, January.
    12. Paraskevi Karanikola & Thomas Panagopoulos & Stilianos Tampakis & Georgios Tsantopoulos, 2018. "Cycling as a Smart and Green Mode of Transport in Small Touristic Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    13. Susilo, Yusak O. & Waygood, E. Owen D., 2012. "A long term analysis of the mechanisms underlying children’s activity-travel engagements in the Osaka metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 41-50.
    14. Aldred, Rachel & Jungnickel, Katrina, 2014. "Why culture matters for transport policy: the case of cycling in the UK," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 78-87.
    15. Nikolett Kosztin & József Tőzsér & László Csernoch & Ildikó Balatoni, 2017. "Reasons For And Obstacles To Cycling In Opinions Of Residents Of Debrecen, Hungary," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 11(3-4), December.
    16. Mercado, Ruben & Páez, Antonio, 2009. "Determinants of distance traveled with a focus on the elderly: a multilevel analysis in the Hamilton CMA, Canada," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 65-76.
    17. Lugo, Adonia E., 2013. "CicLAvia and human infrastructure in Los Angeles: ethnographic experiments in equitable bike planning," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 202-207.
    18. Bergström, A. & Magnusson, R., 2003. "Potential of transferring car trips to bicycle during winter," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 649-666, October.
    19. Tertoolen, Gerard & van Kreveld, Dik & Verstraten, Ben, 1998. "Psychological resistance against attempts to reduce private car use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 171-181, April.
    20. Anable, Jillian & Gatersleben, Birgitta, 2005. "All work and no play? The role of instrumental and affective factors in work and leisure journeys by different travel modes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2-3), pages 163-181.
    21. Meghan Winters & Gavin Davidson & Diana Kao & Kay Teschke, 2011. "Motivators and deterrents of bicycling: comparing influences on decisions to ride," Transportation, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 153-168, January.
    22. Alexa Delbosc & Graham Currie, 2013. "Causes of Youth Licensing Decline: A Synthesis of Evidence," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(3), pages 271-290, May.
    23. Prati, Gabriele & Fraboni, Federico & De Angelis, Marco & Pietrantoni, Luca & Johnson, Daniel & Shires, Jeremy, 2019. "Gender differences in cycling patterns and attitudes towards cycling in a sample of European regular cyclists," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-7.
    24. John Pucher & Ralph Buehler, 2017. "Cycling towards a more sustainable transport future," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6), pages 689-694, November.
    25. Handy, Susan & Cao, Xinyu & Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2005. "Correlation or causality between the built environment and travel behavior? Evidence from Northern California," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt5b76c5kg, University of California Transportation Center.
    26. Sonja Haustein, 2012. "Mobility behavior of the elderly: an attitude-based segmentation approach for a heterogeneous target group," Transportation, Springer, vol. 39(6), pages 1079-1103, November.
    27. Marko Sarstedt & Erik Mooi, 2014. "A Concise Guide to Market Research," Springer Texts in Business and Economics, Springer, edition 2, number 978-3-642-53965-7, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Galway, Lindsay P. & Deck, Eve & Carastathis, Joanna & Sanderson, Robert, 2021. "Exploring social-ecological influences on commuter cycling in a midsize northern city: A qualitative study in Thunder Bay, Canada," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Frank, Lawrence D. & Hong, Andy & Ngo, Victor Douglas, 2021. "Build it and they will cycle: Causal evidence from the downtown Vancouver Comox Greenway," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-11.
    3. Figueroa, Maria J. & Nielsen, Thomas A. Sick & Siren, Anu, 2014. "Comparing urban form correlations of the travel patterns of older and younger adults," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 10-20.
    4. Olafsson, Anton Stahl & Nielsen, Thomas Sick & Carstensen, Trine Agervig, 2016. "Cycling in multimodal transport behaviours: Exploring modality styles in the Danish population," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 123-130.
    5. Gustav Bösehans & Ian Walker, 2020. "Do supra-modal traveller types exist? A travel behaviour market segmentation using Goal framing theory," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 243-273, February.
    6. Iwińska, Katarzyna & Blicharska, Malgorzata & Pierotti, Livia & Tainio, Marko & de Nazelle, Audrey, 2018. "Cycling in Warsaw, Poland – Perceived enablers and barriers according to cyclists and non-cyclists," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 291-301.
    7. Selima Sultana & Hyojin Kim & Nastaran Pourebrahim & Firoozeh Karimi, 2018. "Geographical Assessment of Low-Carbon Transportation Modes: A Case Study from a Commuter University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Hong, Jinhyun & Philip McArthur, David & Stewart, Joanna L., 2020. "Can providing safe cycling infrastructure encourage people to cycle more when it rains? The use of crowdsourced cycling data (Strava)," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 109-121.
    9. Susilo, Yusak O. & Waygood, E. Owen D., 2012. "A long term analysis of the mechanisms underlying children’s activity-travel engagements in the Osaka metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 41-50.
    10. Ali, Fazilatulaili & Dissanayake, Dilum & Bell, Margaret & Farrow, Malcolm, 2018. "Investigating car users' attitudes to climate change using multiple correspondence analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 237-247.
    11. Guilhem Lecouteux & Léonard Moulin, 2023. "Cycling in the Aftermath of COVID-19: An Empirical Estimation of the Social Dynamics of Bicycle Adoption in Paris," GREDEG Working Papers 2023-02, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    12. Nguyen, Minh Hieu & Pojani, Dorina, 2024. "The effect of fuel price fluctuations on utilitarian cycling rates: A survey of cyclists in Vietnam," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    13. Frondel, Manuel & Vance, Colin, 2017. "Cycling on the extensive and intensive margin: The role of paths and prices," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 21-31.
    14. Luqi Wang, 2018. "Barriers to Implementing Pro-Cycling Policies: A Case Study of Hamburg," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    15. Xiaohong Chen & Tianhao Li & Quan Yuan, 2023. "Impacts of built environment on travel behaviors of Generation Z: a longitudinal perspective," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 407-436, April.
    16. Yusak O. Susilo & Chengxi Liu, 2016. "The influence of parents’ travel patterns, perceptions and residential self-selectivity to their children travel mode shares," Transportation, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 357-378, March.
    17. Nkurunziza, Alphonse & Zuidgeest, Mark & Brussel, Mark & Van Maarseveen, Martin, 2012. "Examining the potential for modal change: Motivators and barriers for bicycle commuting in Dar-es-Salaam," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 249-259.
    18. Yusak O. Susilo & Chengxi Liu & Maria Börjesson, 2019. "The changes of activity-travel participation across gender, life-cycle, and generations in Sweden over 30 years," Transportation, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 793-818, June.
    19. Haustein, Sonja & Kroesen, Maarten, 2022. "Shifting to more sustainable mobility styles: A latent transition approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    20. Jacek Oskarbski & Krystian Birr & Karol Żarski, 2021. "Bicycle Traffic Model for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-36, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:49:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s11116-021-10187-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.