Bicycle commuting market analysis using attitudinal market segmentation approach

The market segmentation analysis for bicycle commuting can help identify distinct bicycle market segments and develop specific policies or strategies for increasing the bicycle usage in each segment. This study aims to use the approach of attitudinal market segmentation for identifying the potential markets of bicycle commuting. To achieve the research objective, the household survey is conducted to obtain the travelers’ attitudes towards their commuting travels. The factor analysis is used to explore the latent attitudes. The structural equation modeling (SEM) simultaneously estimates the correlations between the attitudinal factors. The K-means clustering is conducted to segment the bicycle commuting market into several submarkets. Finally, six segments of bicycle commuting market with distinct attitudes are identified by four dividing factors including the willingness to use bicycle, need for fixed schedule, desire for comfort, and environmental awareness. The attitudinal characteristics, socioeconomic features, and actual bicycle choices in each market segment are analyzed and compared. The policy implications that best serve the needs of each submarket are discussed to promote the bicycle commuting. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.