Seattle Department of Transportation

Telephone Survey of Seattle Residents September 2013

Methodology

Interactive Voice Response & Live Interviewing Random Digit Dial Telephone survey
2013 Survey

600 total interviews; Margin of Error +4.0 points IVR n=510 w/live Interviewing n=90 Conducted September 24th-26th, 2013

2012 Survey

600 total interviews; Margin of Error +4.0 points Conducted April 17th 19th, 2012

2011 Survey

823 total interviews, Margin of Error +3.4 points Conducted April 17th 18th, 2011

Weighted to accurately reflect adult population based on key city of Seattle Census demographics Trained, professional interviewers
Please note that due to rounding, some percentages may not add up to exactly 100%. 2

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

Key Findings
Half (50%) of Seattle residents say they do have access to a working bicycle. This is up from 40% in 2012, but it is not yet clear if this is a trend or a result of sample variance.
Residents who have access to a working bicycle are more likely to be white, male, and under 45 years of age. Older residents and non-white residents are the least likely to have access to a working bicycle. Among residents with access to a working bicycle, one-fifth (19%) are regular riders, an increase of 6 points since 2012. 40% are occasional riders, and 40% rarely ride. Among those who ride a few times a year or more, two-thirds (66%) primarily ride for recreation or exercise and one third primarily ride as a way to get to a destination (34%). These results are the same as 2012.

Two thirds (65%) of destination riders are riding 5 miles or less and (43%) are using arterial streets with bike lanes for most of their riding. A majority (51%) of recreational riders also tend to ride 5 miles or less, but less than one-fourth (21%) ride 10 or more miles on average. Recreational riders are more likely to use neighborhood streets (37%) or off-street trails (35%).
Safety (28%), lack of interest (26%), Weather (23%), and hilly terrain (18%) all contribute to not riding more often among those with access to a bicycle. Not feeling safe riding is the top reason for not riding more often overall and among destination riders. Recreational riders mention feeling unsafe ( 28% ) as much as the weather (28%) and being uninterested (26%). Traffic/cars, few bike lanes/narrow streets, and bad drivers were the top mentions among respondents who do not ride more often because of safety.
Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004 3

Access to Bicycle
Q7. Do you currently own or have access to a working bicycle?

No Access 50%

Have Access 50%

M <45 35-44 Male 16-24 <45 White M 45+ 45-54 55-64 25-34 F <45 45+ Female Other (race) F 45+ 65+

65% 62% 60% 60% 55% 54% 53% 52% 48% 47% 45% 43% 40% 40% 31% 27%

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

Access to bicycle by Year

Q7. Do you currently own or have access to a working bicycle?
Yes No

100%

80%

60%

60% 49%

51%
40%

50%

50%

40%

20%

0% 2011 2012
Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

2013
5

Ride frequency
Q9. On average, how often do you ride your bicycle? (n=298; MoE 5.7)
75%

50% 43% 40% 40%

25%

24%

26%

23% 18%

20%

17% 10% 5%

11%
4%

8%

8% 1% 1% 0%

0%
Almost never Few times a year Few times a month Few times a week Ride daily Not sure

2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

Access to bicycle by Year

Q10. Would you say you primarily ride your bicycle as a way to get to a destination or do you ride more for general recreation? (n=179 MoE 7.3)
General Recreation Destination

66%
2013

34%

66%
2012

34%

68%
2011

32%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
7

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

Average Distance
Q11. What is the average distance in miles of a typical bicycle trip for you? (not asked in 2011)

Ride a few times a year or more

n=179; Margin of Error = 7.3 points

2012 39% 36%

2013

22%
17%

23%

19%

19%

16%

3%
Two miles or less Two to five miles Six to ten miles More than ten miles

5%

Not sure
8

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

Bicycle Routes
Q12. When riding in Seattle, do you mostly use routes on neighborhood streets without bike lanes, arterial streets with bike lanes, or use off street trails? (not asked in 2011) Ride a few times a year or more
n=179; Margin of Error = 7.3 points

2012

2013

Neighborhood streets without bike lanes

29%

39% 33%

Arterial streets with bike lanes

24%

37%

Off street trails 8% 3%

25%

Not sure

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

Barriers to Riding
Q13. What would you say is the biggest reason you do not ride more often, the weather, the hilly terrain, you dont feel safe riding, or youre just not that interested in riding more often? (not asked in 2011) Have Access to Working Bicycle n=298; Margin of Error = 5.7 points

2012
Dont feel safe riding

2013 25%

28%
23% 26% 28% 23% 18% 18%

Not that interested in riding more often

The weather

The hilly terrain

Not sure

6% 5%
10

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

Recreation vs. Destination Riders

<2 miles 2 to 5 miles 6 to 10 miles 10 + miles Not Sure
3% 6% 6% 22% 21% 25% 12% 26% 39% 39%

Destination Riders Recreation Riders

34% 37% 43% 35%

Neighborhood streets w/out bike lanes Arterial streets w/ bike lanes Off treet trails Not Sure
4% 4% 19% 22%

Weather Hilly terrain Don't feel safe Not interested

19% 15% 14%

25%

28%

28%
26%

35%

Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004

11

Demographics
Male Female

50% 50%

16 to 24 years old 25 to 34 years old 35 to 44 years old 45 to 54 years old 55 to 64 years old 65 years or older

13% 26% 19% 16% 13% 13%

African American White or Caucasian Hispanic or Latino Asian Other

8% 72% 2% 13%

5%
Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004 12