Bike-GPS Project

The "Bike-GPS: Understanding and Measuring Bicycling Behavior" project is currently in the data analysis stage. The study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, began with a survey, then underwent a second phase of GPS data collection. On May 16, 2008, project lead Jennifer Dill presented many of the findings at the CTS Friday Transportation Seminar.

The key research questions of the study were: How does the built environment influence bicycling behavior; and what routes did they take?

The data Dr. Dill presented documents seven days worth of trips for 149 participants, covering 1,689 total trips. 45% of the participants were women. The data covers trip purposes, length, destinations, average speed, reasons for biking rather driving, and more. She presents in detail the different sets of data, how they are being processed, and in what ways the data can be used in the future.

In addition to addressing the two key research questions, the study also looks at what barriers are preventing people from bicycling more, and how to attract different groups, such as women, to cycling.

Click here to watch the stream of Dr. Dill's presentation. (Note: there is a seven minute delay before the video feed begins.)

Bike-GPS study in the news:

• The Oregonian – "Secret habits of timid cyclists studied"

• Portland Tribune – "Why we bike – or don't"

• KGW – "Researchers try to get into the heads of bike commuters"

• The Oregonian – "Professor wants to follow you on your bicycle"

• BikePortland.org – "PSU study to track cyclists with GPS"