Cycling for transport is an increasingly popular mode of travel in Hamilton, Ontario. Between 2011 and 2016, the mode share of cycling grew from 0.6% to 1.2%. As
of 2019, 46% of the planned cycling facilities network has been built, which suggests that the city is transitioning to a cycling city. However, less is known about the built
environment factors that influence cycling trips or the routes travelled by people who
cycle in Hamilton. Drawing on the strengths of quantitative and qualitative methods, this research explores the built environment correlates of cycling and the perceptions of people who regularly cycle. First, a spatial interaction model was developed to test the level of cycling flows against various built environment attributes using trips data from the 2016 Transportation Tomorrow Survey. A novel feature of this analysis is the use of a cycle routing algorithm to infer routes as impedance factors. The most parsimonious model suggests that the shortest-path quietest routes best explain the pattern of travel by bicycle in Hamilton. To build upon these findings, objective built environment attributes were documented along select shortest-path quietest routes using environmental audits. The qualitative phase of the study then explores how well these approximated routes match where cyclists travel in Hamilton, as well as how the built environment more broadly in a growing city is perceived and experienced, by interviewing people who regularly travel by bicycle. The interviews highlight that the built environment is not yet bicycle-oriented and that cycling infrastructure influences mobility and route choice. As a result, people who cycle seek out routes that enable them to minimize interactions with cars, by incorporating quiet streets, and that have enjoyable environments. Policy implications and recommendations specific to these findings are discussed to further support the city of Hamilton’s transition to a more bikeable city. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/25832 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Desjardins, Elise |
| Contributors | Paez, Antonio, Health Research Methodology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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