Estimating Bicycle Demand in the Austin, Texas Area: Role of a Bikeability Index
Publication: Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 147, Issue 3
Abstract
This study contributes to research and practice by demonstrating the use of a composite measure, a bikeability index, to facilitate the use of and improve the performance of direct demand models for bicycle traffic, especially when only limited observation is available. The city of Austin was selected as a case study to develop the model using bicycle volume from 44 intersections. Existing knowledge and data were leveraged to develop the bikeability index that encompasses multiple built environment features (bicycle route length, comfort, connectivity, destination density, and transit coverage) to quantify the bike-friendliness of the network. In addition to the index, the demand model contained five demographic and land use variables. Some of the variables provided unique insights into bike travel behavior within the city, such as the significant and positive influence of the presence of bike signals and bike-accessible bridges. Along with the improved scalability and transferability of the modeling approach, the results and discussion are expected to facilitate and/or guide informed strategies and educational programs to increase nonmotorized activity in Austin as well as other regions.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the Safety through Disruption (Safe-D) National University Transportation Center, a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers Program (Federal Grant No. 69A3551747115). The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. The US Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. The authors would like to thank the City of Austin for its assistance in furnishing data required for this research. The authors would also like to acknowledge TTI editor Dawn Herring for her editorial review. The authors also thank to three anonymous reviewers and the editor for their insightful feedback.
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Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 147 • Issue 3 • September 2021
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© 2021 Published by American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jan 24, 2020
Accepted: Mar 16, 2021
Published online: May 26, 2021
Published in print: Sep 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Oct 26, 2021
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