Comments on: Why should the City of Portland invest in bicycling? http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:19:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: bikes and mayhem | dysnomia.us http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1212788 bikes and mayhem | dysnomia.us Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:45:43 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1212788 [...] Why should the City of Portland invest in bicycling? [...] [...] Why should the City of Portland invest in bicycling? [...]

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]]> By: revphil http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1212748 revphil Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:23:31 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1212748 <b>BANG!</b> ... buck. BANG!

...

buck.

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]]> By: Tonya http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1212020 Tonya Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:34:05 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1212020 What the blurb says in that "In 2008, more than one of every six Portlanders used a bicycle as either their primary or secondary means of transportation to work." Even if you only rode to work once a month, you still make up the one in six. I think it is important to recognize that while only 6-8% of trips to work may be by bicycle, one in six of us rely on our bicycle and strong bicycling infrastructure to get to work at least some of the time. Investing in that infrastructure directly affects the one in six of us who even only use it occasionally. What the blurb says in that "In 2008, more than one of every six Portlanders used a bicycle as either their primary or secondary means of transportation to work." Even if you only rode to work once a month, you still make up the one in six.

I think it is important to recognize that while only 6-8% of trips to work may be by bicycle, one in six of us rely on our bicycle and strong bicycling infrastructure to get to work at least some of the time. Investing in that infrastructure directly affects the one in six of us who even only use it occasionally.

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]]> By: Jim Lee http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1210792 Jim Lee Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:13:01 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1210792 Comments had not been appearing on my Mac/Safari over the weekend. Comments had not been appearing on my Mac/Safari over the weekend.

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]]> By: mark http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1210691 mark Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:12:03 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1210691 Thanks to those clarifying or amplifying the statistics. Be aware that I am fully in favor of efforts designed to improve, expand and celebrate bicycling in Portland. It's just that I cringe when I read "one of every six" as a statistical justification to promote a particular policy. Skeptical's numbers sound more realistic and that is still a strong indication why we should continue policies that favor bicycles in Portland. Thanks to those clarifying or amplifying the statistics. Be aware that I am fully in favor of efforts designed to improve, expand and celebrate bicycling in Portland. It's just that I cringe when I read "one of every six" as a statistical justification to promote a particular policy. Skeptical's numbers sound more realistic and that is still a strong indication why we should continue policies that favor bicycles in Portland.

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]]> By: Hart http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1210646 Hart Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:57:16 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1210646 Skeptical, you forget that there are thousands of people in Portland whose sole method of transportation is cycling because they have no need or desire for a car. Skeptical, you forget that there are thousands of people in Portland whose sole method of transportation is cycling because they have no need or desire for a car.

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]]> By: Skeptical http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1210630 Skeptical Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:24:41 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1210630 Mark, You are right to question the statistics. The problem is the interpretation of statistics. The basic problem is that those who like to quote the 16 or 17 percent figure are assuming that the primary mode is used every day and the secondary mode is used every day. According to the Auditor's report, 47 percent of respondents report they had no secondary mode. Ten percent considered bicycling to be their secondary mode. But a full 58 percent used that secondary mode only one or two days per month. Using a bike 3 or 4 days per week still qualifies that as one's primary mode, but we shouldn't count that as 100 percent bike mode use. Even those of us who are dedicated, year-round bicycle commuters choose to drive every once in a while. If you work through the Auditor's report using careful statistical analysis, you'll find the results are not too different from the Census Bureau's statistics on the journey to work. Portland still leads the pack for bicycle commuting, but the commute to work is actually in the 6 to 8 percent range. That's not to say that we shouldn't promote and encourage cycling by those who consider the bicycle to be their secondary mode. We clearly should, but let's be careful about how we present our information. Mark, You are right to question the statistics. The problem is the interpretation of statistics. The basic problem is that those who like to quote the 16 or 17 percent figure are assuming that the primary mode is used every day and the secondary mode is used every day.

According to the Auditor's report, 47 percent of respondents report they had no secondary mode. Ten percent considered bicycling to be their secondary mode. But a full 58 percent used that secondary mode only one or two days per month.

Using a bike 3 or 4 days per week still qualifies that as one's primary mode, but we shouldn't count that as 100 percent bike mode use. Even those of us who are dedicated, year-round bicycle commuters choose to drive every once in a while.

If you work through the Auditor's report using careful statistical analysis, you'll find the results are not too different from the Census Bureau's statistics on the journey to work. Portland still leads the pack for bicycle commuting, but the commute to work is actually in the 6 to 8 percent range.

That's not to say that we shouldn't promote and encourage cycling by those who consider the bicycle to be their secondary mode. We clearly should, but let's be careful about how we present our information.

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]]> By: Roger Geller http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1210523 Roger Geller Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:29:20 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1210523 Mark #3: The data is based on the <a Href="http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/" rel="nofollow">City Auditor's</A> 2008 <a Href="http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=48978&a=219201" rel="nofollow">annual Resident Survey.</A> You can find the commuting information on the 6th and 7th pages of the report. The Auditor reports that 8% of Portlanders identified the bicycle as their primary means to travel to work and another 10% identified it as their alternate mode of travel. You can find the Auditor's methodology <a Href="http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=48978&a=219204" rel="nofollow">here.</A> Mark #3:

The data is based on the City Auditor's 2008 annual Resident Survey. You can find the commuting information on the 6th and 7th pages of the report. The Auditor reports that 8% of Portlanders identified the bicycle as their primary means to travel to work and another 10% identified it as their alternate mode of travel.

You can find the Auditor's methodology here.

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]]> By: Hart http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1210507 Hart Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:57:09 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1210507 <i>17%, of Portlanders commute by bicycle. It doesn't' ring true</i> This number is likely accurate, as the overwhelming number of cars that you see on Portland's freeways are coming from outside the city. 17%, of Portlanders commute by bicycle. It doesn't' ring true

This number is likely accurate, as the overwhelming number of cars that you see on Portland's freeways are coming from outside the city.

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]]> By: E http://bikeportland.org/2009/04/08/why-should-the-city-of-portland-invest-in-bicycling-16898#comment-1210498 E Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:42:27 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16898#comment-1210498 @ mark, I use my bike as a "secondary" means of transportation. I combine bike and transit to get to work most days, but some days I just use transit. Portland is a GREAT city for bicycling, and I am behind any and all efforts to make it better - especially given the cost-benefit analysis. Thanks for this list, Jonathan! I'm thinking of ways to make it visible in the community... hmm.. @ mark, I use my bike as a "secondary" means of transportation. I combine bike and transit to get to work most days, but some days I just use transit.

Portland is a GREAT city for bicycling, and I am behind any and all efforts to make it better - especially given the cost-benefit analysis. Thanks for this list, Jonathan! I'm thinking of ways to make it visible in the community... hmm..

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