[*BCM*] Suggestions for a bicycling survey?

[Cameron Hall]

I think winter is kind of a biggie.

On 7/23/05, turtle <turtle at zworg.com> wrote:
> I'm putting together a survey (ostensibly for the Somerville Women's
> Commission) about bicycling issues.  I'd like to come up with a
> checklist of common (and maybe some not-so-common) problems that
> prevent people from biking for transportation.
> 
> I'd be grateful (and it would make the survey more effective and
> unbiased) if I could have some more input from the CM list folks...
> 
> So far I've got these problems from people (here and in other places):
> 
> • Poor road conditions (debris, broken pavement, potholes, sand, etc.)
> • Confusing/dangerous road designs (weird looking bike lanes, really
> wide or really narrow and winding roads, lack of standardized
> intersections for paths/roads, etc.)
> • Illegal and disrespectful behavior by motorists (no explanation
> needed!)
> • Illegal and disrespectful behavior by biyclists
> • Illegal and disrespectful behavior by pedestrians (and scooter users,
> rollerbladers, etc.)
> • Illegal and disrespectful behavior by police officers
> • Can't afford to bike (equipment, mantenance, and/or repair costs)
> • Theft and vandalism of bikes/equipment
> • Lack of knowledge/education on how to bike (traffic laws, fixing a
> flat, how to climb a hill, etc.)
> • Lack of convenient and safe parking
> • Lack of social support for biking (others tease you for your choice to
> bike, feelings of isolation and/or of being second class citizen, etc.)
> • Physical problems with standard bike design (sore back, knees, wrists,
> butt, balance issues, etc.)
> 
> Clearly not all of these are problems for everyone!  That's why I'm
> conducting the survey.  I want to know what the biggest issues are for
> most people, so we can focus on those first.
> 
> Am I missing anything?  I'm specifically looking for very basic
> problems.  I'm NOT looking for suggestions for solutions (not yet
> anyway!), since this is a survey for normal, everyday transportational
> bicyclists and those who might be interested in biycling as
> transportation.  Once we get the results of this survey, I will share
> them on this list, and THEN I'll ask for some brainstorming for
> solutions.  Once that's done, I'm planning on sharing the results with
> anyone and everyone (from traffic engineers, to local, state, and
> federal bicycling organizations).
> 
> Thanks for the help!
> 
> Peace, Love, and Bicycling,
> -Turtle
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