WINTER CYCLING - THE IMPORTANCE OF ROAD CONDITIONS IN SELECTION OF TRANSPORT MODE

Reduction of motor traffic is a matter of urgency both as regards well-being and the environment. Each individual person can help reduce the amount of motor traffic by cycling as often as possible when travelling short distances. The purpose of this study was to investigate how important the road maintenance and operational standards of cycleways are in choice of mode during winter. It was also important to bring the spotlight to bear on what people in general think about the winter maintenance standards of cycleways today. A survey was consequently carried out in Linkoeping and Luleaa. Four major companies were selected. Between March and April 1998, 200 randomly selected employees at each of the companies were presented with a questionnaire to fill in. General opinion regarding the winter maintenance of cycleways was that it needed improving. It also emerged that the road conditions of cycleways have an important role to play in choice of mode for travel to work. As many as 38 per cent of the respondents stated that they would cycle to work more often in winter if the winter maintenance of cycleways was improved. In the assessment of factors that are important in the choice of mode, travel time was generally regarded as being the most important. However, exercise and cost were considered as being more important by those who cycle relatively often during the winter, whilst temperature, precipitation and road conditions were allocated the greatest importance by those who cycle in summer but not in winter. It also emerged that snow clearance was more important than de-icing. (A)