An Analysis of Commuter Bicyclist Route Choice Using a Stated Preference Survey

This paper evaluates the importance of factors affecting commuter bicyclists’ route choices. Both route-level (e.g., travel time) and link-level (e.g., pavement quality) factors are examined. Empirical models are estimated using data from a stated preference survey conducted by the authors over the Internet. The models indicate that, for commuter bicyclists, travel time is the most important factor in choosing a route. Presence of a bicycle facility (especially a bike lane or separate path), the level of automobile traffic, pavement or riding surface quality, and presence of a bicycle facility on a bridge are also very important determinants. The paper also discusses the policy implications of these results for bicycle facility planning.