Cyclists' Consideration of Energy Expenditure and Air Pollution in Route Planning : Planning and Policy Implications

Despite the many positive benefits of cycling, and negative health risks of air pollution, very little is known about cyclists’ consideration of air pollution when route planning. Even less is known about the role of energy expenditure in route planning. An intercept survey of cyclists was conducted in the city of Vancouver in the summer of 2016. A total of 648 participants took part in the study. After data cleaning, there were 602 respondents remaining in the sample. Two ordinal logistic regression models were developed, one for cyclists’ consideration of air pollution and the second for their consideration of energy expenditure in route planning. The model with consideration of air pollution as the dependent variable had five independent variables. Cyclists who consider energy expenditure, walk frequently, cycle year-round, enjoy physical activity and who are older are more likely to consider air pollution when choosing a route. The second model had consideration of energy expenditure as the dependent variable and four independent variables. Respondents who see bicycling as exercise, are comfortable on major streets, and enjoy physical activity are more likely to consider energy expenditure when route planning. Those with higher income levels were somewhat less likely to consider energy expenditure. The types of cyclists who are more likely to consider air pollution and energy expenditure when choosing a route can be roughly placed in two categories – ‘health conscious’ and ‘committed’ cyclists. There are a number of potential implications of these findings. Future research should build on these findings and include energy expenditure and air pollution consideration in route planning studies. Public education can improve the public’s awareness of air pollution, especially for those less likely to consider pollution in route planning, and provide better information on limiting pollution exposure when route planning. Planners can provide a variety of cycling infrastructure to accommodate a range of cycling types, and design bike routes in ways that limit pollution exposure.Applied Science, Faculty ofCommunity and Regional Planning (SCARP), School ofUnreviewedGraduat