[*BCM*] Suggestions for a bicycling survey?

[Julia Asherman]

bad weather, not enough bike events that encourage group/family bike rides 
(mem drive is one example)

-julia

----Original Message Follows----
From: "turtle" <turtle at zworg.com>
Reply-To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Subject: [*BCM*] Suggestions for a bicycling survey?
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 18:33:57 -0700

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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