'Bicycling and Walking Attitudes' Survey Completed on Behalf of FDOT-D5

By Kathryn Podolsky

Gathering information from citizens for the purpose of improving communities is an important function of public administrators. One way government and nonprofit agencies go about getting citizen opinions is through surveys -- studies that assess the perceptions and opinions of sample populations.

Just such a survey was completed in August 2003. This particular survey gathered the opinions of residents in nine Florida counties concerning walking, bicycling and the use of walking and bicycling facilities.

Evan Berman, professor in the Department of Public Administration, was the principal investigator of the project, supported by the Florida Institute of Government and titled, "Bicycling and Walking Attitudes Survey in Central Florida." The research was completed on behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation, District 5 (FDOT-D5) and will assist the agency, using citizen input, in current and future planning for bicycling and walking transportation issues.

This survey grew out of a similar, but smaller effort, when in January 2003 Berman conducted a bicycling and walking phone survey for METROPLAN ORLANDO, a transportation planning agency for the three-county region of Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

"The Florida Department of Transportation, District 5, wanted to replicate it for the larger, nine-county region," Berman said.

The FDOT-D5 region encompasses Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia Counties, so the expansion of the original survey was quite large. The phone survey for METROPLAN included 304 residents randomly chosen from three counties, compared with the phone survey for FDOT-D5, which included 1,821 respondents, approximately 200 in each of the nine counties. All respondents were at least 18 years old. About half of those who responded to the FDOT-D5 survey bicycle (56.4%), and the other half do not.

The study has several highlights. One finding is that both bicyclists and non-bicyclists agree they have high expectations for walking and bicycling in Central Florida. The report finds: "91.0% of bicyclists and 77.1% of non-bicyclists agree or strongly agree that they would like their area to be among the most attractive places for walking or bicycling in the United States. However, 87.9% of bicyclists and 72.1% of non-bicyclists agree or strongly agree that they would like to live in a place where more of their daily needs can be met through walking and bicycling."

Another survey finding is that although almost everyone who bicycles does so for recreation or fitness, 33.5% of bicyclists also bicycle for errands and other purposes, including going to school or to work. When asked what they like most about walking and bicycling in their area, respondents most often noted the scenery, exercise, relaxation, being outdoors and the paths. Some also noted the opportunity to socialize. When asked what they liked least, many mentioned traffic and unsafe drivers and roads. Some also noted the lack of bicycling and walking facilities, but few mentioned the weather, heat or bugs.

Indeed, the report identifies safety as an important concern in peoples' decision to bicycle. For example, bicyclists who agree or strongly agree that it is safe to bicycle on the bike lanes in their area are twice more likely to bicycle for errands than those who feel that such lanes are not safe. Respondents also support efforts to make walking and bicycling safer: "93.1% agree or strongly agree that police should give tickets to motorists who fail to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks."

The report provides important data that helps the Florida Department of Transportation make funding decisions to ensure that the region's bicycling paths, lanes and sidewalks meet the needs of Central Florida residents in the years ahead.