PDOT’s Transportation Options Division has just released an interesting comparison of survey results based on their SmartTrips program. SmartTrips — formerly known as the “Hub” project — is the name given to their annual marketing program that promotes biking, walking, and public transit in a selected geographic area.
In 2006 the target area was Northeast and in 2007 the target area is Southeast (see map at right).
Last September, a post-survey of Northeast residents and the pre-survey of Southeast residents was administered to 900 households; 300 in Northeast and 600 in Southeast.
The most interesting part of the survey is a series of eight statements that asked respondents in both areas if they “Strongly Agree”, “Somewhat Agree”, “Somewhat Disagree”, and “Strongly Disagree.”
Here are the statements:
- In Portland, bikes provide a good means of basic transportation.
- Biking is a good way to take care of errands close to home.
- It is unlikely that I would ever ride a bike to work.
- I am comfortable riding my bike on a street with heavy traffic if there is a bike lane.
- Riding a bike is an important part of my lifestyle.
- I would like to ride a bike more often, but I have trouble fitting it into my current lifestyle.
- Having to share the road with cars and other motor vehicles is the main reason I don’t ride more often.
- I would ride on a streets that have been designed to work well for bicycles even if they are slightly out of my way.
Below are some of the results, followed by excerpts of PDOT’s analysis:
PDOT analysis:
“In NE Portland, 91% of residents either strongly or somewhat agreed that bicycles provide a good means of basic transportation; only 8 percent of the population in NE disagreed. The number for SE were somewhat lower, but still astonishing in terms of the level of potential support for bicycles. Fifty percent of the residents in NE who do not own a bike, strongly agreed with this statement. In both areas, 85% of residents with children agreed and the responses did not vary significantly by gender. 60% of those who strongly disagreed with this statement in NE were over 55 years old (56% in SE).”
PDOT analysis:
“Half of those who strongly agreed that it is unlikely thatthey would ever bike to work were over the age of 55 in both areas. When respondents over 55 years old were removed from the data set, over 63% the population responded favorably to the question.”
PDOT analysis:
“The results indicate that there is broad support among residents for creating bicycle friendly streets, and that such facilities could induce some new riders. However, between and 20-30% of the population would not ride on such facilities. Those respondents who were over 55 years old were split on this issue in NE, with 31% stronlgy agreeing and 24% stronlgy disagreeing; in SE 19% of those over 55 stongly agreed while 37% strongly disagreed.”
For full analysis of all eight statements, download PDOT’s report here (PDF, 90KB). PDOT has also written up a memo that summarizes that report (PDF, 157KB).