Introduction
BikeArlington and WalkArlington partnered with Mobility Lab to assess existing factors that serve as barriers for bicyclists, non-bicyclists, walkers, and non-walkers from using walking and bicycling as methods of transportation in Arlington County, Va.
Methodology
After a week of taking photographs, participants joined in a facilitated discussion using the focus-group approach. A total of 31 participants participated in four focus groups (two on June 13th and two on June 14th), with around 8 participants in each group.
Participants took photographs and facilitated discussions around the following topics or themes: traffic and cars, personal factors, infrastructure, personal safety, and family/home life.
Key findings
- Within the theme of traffic and cars, critical factors that influence participants’ decision to walk and bike include the time of day, general disregard for traffic laws by drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, congested roads, and the availability and widely accepted use of alternative modes of transportation (e.g. cars, public transportation).
- Within the theme of personal factors, critical factors that influence participants’ decision to walk and bike include the type of job culture, required professional attire, commuting distance, and weather.
- Within the theme of infrastructure, critical factors that influence participants’ decision to walk and bike include the availability and conditions of bike lanes and multi-use trails, road conditions, availability and accessibility to bike storage, construction, and new developments.
- Within the theme of personal safety, critical factors that influence participants’ decision to walk and bike include nighttime and lack of lighting, presence of law enforcement, perceived harassment of women, shared bike lanes with cars, and carrying capacity.
- Within the theme of family and home life, critical factors that influence participants’ decision to walk and bike include the juggling of multiple responsibilities with limited time, responsibilities associated with child rearing, and peer behavior.
- A subgroup analysis found some variations between males and females around the following topics: women perceived personal safety, hair, and responsibilities associated with child rearing as barriers to walking and biking, whereas men did not mention these factors.
- The subgroup analysis did not find differences between respondents based on race/ethnicity or geographical location within Arlington County.
- Key strategies identified by participants as means of improving the likelihood of walking and biking included improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (e.g. separated bike lanes, sidewalks and multi-use trails), organizing community bike rides; providing tips and strategies on maintaining professional attire; and educating drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians on traffic rules.