ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Suanne R. Davendonis, for the Master of Science degree in Education, presented on December 10 of 2009 at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. TITLE: BICYCLE FACILITIES IN HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS: AN ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL USERS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Whitney Ward This study was conducted to determine likely users of bicycle facilities in Highland, Illinois. Highland is a rural community in southern Illinois with a population of just fewer than 10,000 people, located about 30 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. Specifically, the study looked at possible relationships between gender, age, active walkers, and a desire for biking or bike trails in Highland. The study drew on data from the 2008 Highland Parks and Recreation Community Survey used to determine the wants and needs of the community in order to provide added focus and priority for the Parks and Recreation Department. The survey was completed by 148 respondents, of which data from 73 surveys were used in the study. Gender makeup was 57 females and 14 males, and 2 who did not declare their gender. The 21 question survey included a question with 28 activities asking the respondent to select an unlimited number of choices from those activities that he or she would like to see more offered or have those activities provided. Two of those activities were biking and bike trails. The survey also asked which, if any, walking facilities were used at the community's nine parks and recreation facilities. Statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between gender and a desire for biking or bike trails. Age had some effect on a desire for biking but no significant effect on a desire for bike trails. Lastly, being an active walker did show an association with a desire for biking or bike trails; however, it was a weak correlation.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Montana, 2007. / Description based on contents viewed July 27, 2007; title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-90).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-36).

No description available.

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project / Tucson is a reflection of the inefficient transportation system of the United States. The city’s auto centric emphasis is resulting in a collection of unhealthy citizens, endlessly investing into constructing unaccommodating infrastructure and contributes to the degradation of the natural environment. In order to correct these issues facing Tucson, the city must encourage more active transportation. By using case studies of other American cities- Portland, Minneapolis, and Austin- Tucson can learn some strategies that have been successful. Portland, Minneapolis and Austin have all effectively created active transportation systems utilizing various techniques. Creating a safe built environment, constructing a connected network and introducing equity amongst all forms of transportation can encourage more participation of active transportation in Tucson. By adopting the strategies used by Portland, Minneapolis and Austin, Tucson can produce a successful active transportation system and furthermore, create a healthier population, an efficient economy, and reduce the degrading environmental behavior that all exist today.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physiotherapy. Johannesburg, 2014 / Cycling has grown in popularity as a sport and is rated as one of the top 15 most popular sports in South Africa with more than 420 000 participants. Cyclists spend long continuous hours on the bicycle in an awkward position, which leads to unique overuse injuries. Overuse injuries in cyclists have been estimated to be as high as 85% with lower back and pelvis pain (LBPP) among the most common. The lower back and pelvis is the foundation the cyclist use for powering and controlling the bicycle and optimal functioning thereof is essential for optimal comfort and performance in cycling. The prolonged forward flexed position of the cyclist on the bicycle is regarded as one of the main contributors to LBPP in cyclists. Cyclists with LBPP are known to assume a position of greater lumbar flexion compared to those without but the reason for this has not been extensively explored. The purpose of this study was therefore to not only establish the prevalence of LBPP in cyclists in South Africa, but also identify factors associated with it in cyclists. The factors were considered in three broad categories: (1) training methods used, (2) intrinsic functioning of the cyclist and (3) bicycle set-up. Intrinsic and bicycle set-up factors included were those proposed to influence the forward-backward and side-to-side position of the cyclist on the bicycle and thereby lead to the development of LBPP in cyclists. The study had a cross-sectional descriptive design and comprised of two parts: a questionnaire (survey) investigating the prevalence of LBPP in cyclists together with the training methods used, and a physical assessment of the factors proposed to be associated with LBPP in cyclists. All cyclists belonging to cycling clubs registered with Cycling South Africa were invited to complete the online survey. From there, cyclists could indicate willingness to undergo a physical assessment which was done in the greater Gauteng area. The physical assessment included the following measurements: the lumbar curvature on the bicycle in all three handlebar positions, strength of gluteus maximus and gluteus medius, extensibility of the hamstring muscle group, control of lumbar movement in the direction of flexion, neurodynamics, active straight leg raise for load transfer, one leg stance test for lateral shift of the pelvis, leg-length discrepancy and bicycle set-up (saddle height, set-back and angle, handlebar height, forward reach, cleat position). The study revealed a lifetime prevalence of 65% for LBPP among cyclists in South Africa. Of the factors assessed, only the lumbar curvature in the brake lever position i.e. flexion of the lumbar spine (p=0.03) and the weakness of gluteus medius (Gmed) (p=0.05) were significantly related to LBPP in cyclists. This study was the first to assess the relationship between so many different factors and LBPP in cyclists, and the largest of its kind in cycling. Understanding the relationship between these factors and LBPP in cyclists can guide the development of preventative strategies and interventions with the aim of reducing the occurrence and recurrence of LBPP in cyclists and limiting the impact thereof.

This thesis will explore Boise, Idaho as a real-world case study of the car dominated American cities, and the potential to enact a large-scale shift to alternative forms of transportation. Examining the complexities of inter-governmental and communal-governmental relationships to better understand the history and current state of infrastructure and alternative transit facilities in Boise and theorizing a best path forward. The thesis will also delve into bicycle activists’ groups operating in Boise, to assess their goals and methods of reaching those goals.

BACKGROUND: Active transportation, such as using a bicycle to get one from one place to another, has definite benefits over driving or some other form of travel that requires less exertion; the most obvious of these is that it helps a person meet the daily recommendations for physical activity. College campuses tend to have higher rates of bicycle-commuters than non-campus environments, although Georgia State University faces unique barriers to bicycling due to its downtown location. In 2009, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess bicycling attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. In the two years that followed, a faculty-student collaborative known as GSU Bikes implemented efforts to try to increase bicycling on campus. Campus bicycle count data between the two years showed positive increases. In 2011, the study was repeated to examine if bicycling attitudes, knowledge, and behavior had changed since 2009. METHODS: 211 Georgia State University undergraduate and graduate students were surveyed in Fall 2011. The data they provided were then analyzed and compared to the 2009 bicycle data using independent-samples t­-tests and a chi-square analysis to identify significant differences between the two data sets. RESULTS: Few significant differences between the two sets of data were identified. Participants in 2011 had significantly higher agreement that they could locate information regarding bicycle safety and repairs, as well as reported a significantly greater likelihood of bicycling to campus if educational programs to, from, and around the GSU campus were implemented. Written feedback suggested that fear of collisions was still a major barrier; many students suggested a campus bicycle-share program and more information disseminated to students about bicycling to campus. DISCUSSION: The results from this study demonstrate that efforts aimed at encouraging students to bicycle to campus, between the 2009 and 2011 data collections, may not have been as effective as they were intended. Bicycle promotion that reaches a greater number of Georgia State University students is suggested. Because of the method of data sampling in this study, the data analyzed may not be truly representative of the Georgia State University population. In the future, an improved survey that is disseminated electronically may result in a larger sample size, increasing statistical validity and ability to generalize findings.

Amongst transportation professionals there is a motivation to increase the use of active transportation to achieve contemporary transportation engineering goals. This research describes a year-long GPS cycling study conducted in partnership by the University of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo Ontario. Data were collected from 415 self-selected cyclists, using two distinct data collection mechanisms. Data collected from GPS units revealed trip origins, destinations, and routes; the data also contain time stamps from which travel speeds can be computed. An online survey was administered to gather cyclists’ socio-economic information and household composition. The survey also collected responses to questions regarding preferences for cycling infrastructure and overall satisfaction. The trip data allow for several important conclusions. The average trip length observed in the study was 6.96 kilometers; utilitarian trips (i.e. non-recreational) constitute 92% of the observed trips. This suggests that cyclists are able to complete daily activities – commuting, shopping, etc. – with less overall travel than the general population. The trip data also suggests relationships between the propensity to cycle and land use patterns. Strong positive correlations are demonstrated between higher land use density and the number of cycling trips; moreover, cycling trips tend to be more direct in areas with traditional neighbourhood design. The time at which the trips were taken – predominantly the am or pm peaks – suggest that the cyclists’ mode choice results in lowering peak demand and, therefore, reducing regional congestion. Fewer and typically shorter cycling trips were observed during winter months, presumably as a result of less favorable climate. Participants in the study are typically higher-than-average earners and mirror the overall regional age distribution, although seniors and children were underrepresented. The cyclists in the study are predominantly male which may reflect an overall higher propensity to cycle amongst men compared to women. Cyclists’ households are more likely than the general population to own fewer cars than licensed drivers which may be interpreted as a cost saving opportunities for these households. Finally, the survey data suggests that the single largest impediment to increased cycling is a perception of poor safety for cyclists, particularly in terms of interactions with automobiles.