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Bicycle Use in Germany: Explaining Differences between Municipalities with Social Network Effects

Author

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  • Frank Goetzke

    (Frank Goetzke is in the Department of Urban and Public Affairs, University of Louisville, 426 West Bloom Street, Louisville, Kentucky, 40208, USA, f0goet01@louisville.edu)

  • Tilmann Rave

    (IFO Institute for Economic Research, Poschingerstr. 5, Munich, 81679, Germany, rave@ifo.de)

Abstract

This paper aims to account for important factors influencing bicycle use and focuses in particular on differences between 20 selected German municipalities with considerable variation in their bicycle mode share. Using data from the nation-wide survey Mobility in Germany 2002, a mode choice model for bicycling is developed. In an extension to previous research, social network or spillover effects as a measure of the city’s bicycling culture are also taken into account. These effects are modelled using an instrumental variable approach. It is shown that social network effects increase the probability of cycling for shopping and recreational trip purposes, but not for school, work or errands. Furthermore, it is found that cycling infrastructure matters only for shopping and errand trips. Finally, commuting trips by bicycle seem to be largely independent of any policy variables.

Suggested Citation

  • Frank Goetzke & Tilmann Rave, 2011. "Bicycle Use in Germany: Explaining Differences between Municipalities with Social Network Effects," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(2), pages 427-437, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:48:y:2011:i:2:p:427-437
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098009360681
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. William A. Brock & Steven N. Durlauf, 2001. "Discrete Choice with Social Interactions," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 68(2), pages 235-260.
    2. Richard Arnott & Tilmann Rave & Ronnie Schöb, 2005. "Alleviating Urban Traffic Congestion," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262012197, December.
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    4. Shy,Oz, 2001. "The Economics of Network Industries," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521805001, May.
    5. William A. Brock & Steven N. Durlauf, 2002. "A Multinomial-Choice Model of Neighborhood Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(2), pages 298-303, May.
    6. Rietveld, Piet & Daniel, Vanessa, 2004. "Determinants of bicycle use: do municipal policies matter?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 531-550, August.
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