Identification of factors influencing bicycling in small sized cities: A case study of Kharagpur, India

• This study has identified key variables influencing bicycling.
• User's perception toward bicycling is analyzed based on these observed variables.
• Using EFA five latent factors influencing user perception are identified.
• Results are compared with expert-judgment by pair-wise comparison AHP.
• A common set of factors influencing bicycling from user and expert opinion are found.

With increasing concern about global warming, greenhouse gas emissions and rising fuel prices, non-motorized modes, such as bicycle are gaining importance as viable mode in urban transportation worldwide. In small sized Indian cities non-motorized transportation accounts for over two thirds of all trips, but with increase in purchasing power and affordability, Indian commuters are leaning towards motorized private modes leading to a rapid growth in motorized vehicle population and thus increasingly congested roadways and urban air pollution. At this juncture it is very important to investigate that what influences people's mode choice in general and bicycle mode choice in particular.This study has identified specific attitudinal attributes related to Physical factors, Psychological factors, Travel Time sensitivity, Economic aspects, Congestion, Parking, Route or Link level facilities, Route topography, Safety related factors, Security related factor, Environmental awareness and Weather related factors. A travel behavior survey with questionnaire designed to address these attributes was conducted to understand user's attitude toward bicycling in a small Indian city. The survey outcomes were then used in exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which revealed Perceived Benefits, Physical Barriers, Safety Hazards, Social Barriers, and Road Condition to be the major factor classes influencing bicycle mode choice.In order to compare user perception with expert perception, a pair-wise comparison using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) has also been performed on factors related to user-specific, route-related and journey-related components. The results reveal physical factors, safety related concerns and route topography to be the key and common set of parameters influencing bicycle choice both from the user's and as well as expert's point of view.