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.

The design of bicycle frames has remained fairly static for the majority of the past century, but recent increases in demand for high performance bicycles has created an accelerated design cycle that requires innovation. In order to design new frames with confidence in their capacity to withstand the rigors of use, reliable data about the nature of that use is needed, but this data is not currently available. The purpose of this research was to develop and implement a system that is capable of interpolating loads applied to a bicycle frame during vigorous riding for the purpose of improving the quality of information available to bicycle designers. The system that was developed employed finite element modeling to locate strain gauges on a frame and a least-squares approximate solution of strain readings to interpolate the applied loads. At its best, the system is capable of resolving loads with better than a 2% error. This system is limited, though, as it can only be applied in cases where the frame has a significant strain reaction to a load case but does not have a significant change in geometry during loading. This system was implemented on a cross-country mountain bicycle frame for the purposes of determining a rider weight to load relationship and to compare the standardized test procedures for bicycles to the loads experienced in the field. It was confirmed that there is a linear relationship between rider weight and load on the frame for all component forces except that applied to the bottom bracket, out of plane with the bicycle frame. It was also found that the British Standards fatigue testing practices, which are used internationally to assess bicycle safety, are inconsistent in their representation of realistic riding conditions when compared with the results from the field tests. Some loads appear conservative, some offer a very large factor of safety, and two are not represented at all. In particular, the moment about the bottom bracket due to pedaling and the load on the seat from the rider appear to consistently exceed the standardized test requirements while the moment caused by fork splay seems much smaller than the tests demand.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on January 7, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-206). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M. P. A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2008. / "Fall 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-85).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "May, 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-66). Library also has microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [2008]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.R.C.P.)--Kansas State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-114). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.R.C.P.)--Kansas State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-114).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2007. / Title from title screen (site viewed July 09, 2007). PDF text: viii, 392 p. UMI publication number: AAT 3252438. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Introduction and Rationale: Bicycle riding is popular among the pediatric population, but with popularity comes a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. Cycling injuries occur in one-fifth of children aged 15 years and younger. Most life-threatening injuries among bicycle riders occur when the head is involved in bodily injury. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) related to bicycle accidents accounts for three-fourths of deaths. Despite the risk, many bicycle riders go without wearing helmets, largely due to lack of ownership. Purpose and Objective: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop and implement a pilot bicycle helmet program for a pediatric population, ages 5-13, from a pediatric emergency department (PED) perspective. The project objective was to increase bicycle helmet use among participants' children by providing the child with a free bicycle helmet, and also providing the parent with education specifically related to the importance of bicycle helmet safety. The project was driven through the Health Belief Model, and utilized the Teachable Moment of a PED encounter to influence risk-reducing behavior. Methods: This DNP project utilized a quasi-experimental, one group, pre- and post-test design. Participants were recruited from an urban PED, and identified at triage as being involved in a bicycle accident. Eligible children were fitted for a free bicycle helmet, and the parent was provided with an educational session coupled with a handout for home. A one-month follow-up phone call was conducted to assess bicycle helmet use and education retainment following the intervention. Results: All participants reported an increase in bicycle helmet use by their children. This study was able to show statistical significance related to bicycle helmet use, thus the null hypothesis was fairly confidently rejected. However, there were only five participants in this study, which makes generalization of results to a larger population difficult. Conclusions: This study showed that a bicycle helmet program is feasible in a PED, and could increase bicycle helmet use in a pediatric population. A DNP is an excellent candidate to run such a program as it focuses on positively impacting injury-prevention and dissemination of good practice for a larger community.