Understanding cycling behaviours of commuters: Methodological issues Northumbria Research Conference - May 2012
Godwin Yeboah*, PhD Student, 2nd Year. Supervisors: Dr. Seraphim Alvanides* & Dr. Emine M. Thompson*
• Participants (i.e., Utility Cyclists) carried the GPS device for one
week (7 days) while filling self-administered questionnaire
forms.
• Data collection wave: October – November 2011
• Participation: 81 out of 118 cyclists
• Evaluation and procurement of GPS devices
• Preparation of survey materials and meeting
arrangements with participants
• Data cleaning and extraction of cycle tracks
Forsyth, A. & Krizek, K. (2011) 'Urban Design: Is there a Distinctive View
from the Bicycle?', Journal of Urban Design, 16 (4), pp. 531-549.
Skinner, D. & Rose, P. (2007) 'Hell is other Cyclist: rethinking transport
and identity', in Horton, D., Rosen, P. & Cox, P. (eds.) Cycling and
Society. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, pp. 83-96.
WHY CYCLING?
INTRODUCTION METHOD
SPACE-TIME VISUALISATION
SELECTED REFERENCES
CHALLENGES
• Exploratory analysis of collected data
• Analysis and visualisation of revealed movement
patterns (i.e., actual route and destination
choices) using Space-Time Cube
• Reconstruction of travel behaviour of cyclists
using agent based modelling and simulation
(ABMS) techniques – Cycle Track Modelling
(CTM)
FUTURE WORK
This poster gives an illustration of methodological
issues encountered during a recent Global
Positioning System (GPS) based personal travel
survey on everyday utility cycling is presented.
Utility cycling is defined as any (bi) cycling which is
not done primarily for fitness, recreation such as
cycle touring, or sport such as cycle racing, but
simply as a means of transport. The results of the
survey are presented. Additionally, GeoTime with
ArcGIS, OpenStreetMap (OSM), and Google
technologies are used to map and visualised a
sample of the collected data.
Cleaned DATA–Not MESSY!
STUDY AREA
RAW DATA–MESSY!
Data Cleaning
• Tested survey materials
with 7 people before
survey
• Evaluated 4 GPS
devices: i-gotU GT-600;
Atmel BTT08; Canmore
GT-750 (L); and Qstarz
BT-Q1000XT (selected)
• Over 362 email
exchanges
Many thanks to Northumbria Graduate School for financing the cost for
printing the poster. Special thanks to Northumbria University for funding
this project. To all those who participated in the survey, special thanks for
your support. Thanks to “Oculus Info, Inc” for providing GeoTime Software
under special license for this research. To my Supervisors, I am grateful!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
* AFFILIATION
Area:
in & around
Newcastle upon
Tyne
Background map: Google Maps 2012
Screening: Mainly cyclists
with home or work/school location in Newcastle area
whiles grouping invitees into cyclists and potential cyclists.
Further analysis
Stepwise flow (main survey)
Stepwise flow (during testing)
Recruitment: face-to-face
meeting with participants; introducing and handing
over GPS device with travel diary & questionnaire form
Data collection: Participant carries GPS
device and fills travel diary. Fills other forms-only on first and last days of survey week
Preparation: of materials
(Online & offline questionnaires, travel diary, flyer, brochure, poster, email
content, mailing list)
Invitation: of potential
participants using - Emails, Notice Boards, Handing over flyers/brochures, Twitter, &
Surveymonkey.com
OFF/NAV/OFF options
Battery status LED (Red/Green)
GPS status LED Power jack (mini USB type)
Charging GPS with mini USB cable to the PC/laptop/etc
GeoTime Software
Google Earth
Export
This work is, in part, a response to existing calls,
from literature, for further research to incorporate
the investigation and discovery of cyclist’s
perception and experiences (Skinner & Rose, 2007;
Forsyth & Krizek, 2011); to support urban designers
as well as cycling policy interventions and
transportation engineers and thereby increase
cycling uptake.
Background map: OpenStreetMap 2012
Qstarz GPS & Usage
HOME WORK/SCHOOL STUDY AREA
LEGEND
Overview