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Seattle Department of TransportationTelephone Survey of Seattle Residents
September 2013
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2Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004
Please note that due to rounding,
some percentages may not add up to
exactly 100%.
Methodology
Interactive Voice Response & Live Interviewing Random Digit Dial Telephone survey
2013 Survey
600 total interviews; Margin of Error +4.0 points IVR n=510 w/live Interviewing n=90
Conducted September 24th-26th, 2013
2012 Survey
600 total interviews; Margin of Error +4.0 points
Conducted April 17th19th, 2012
2011 Survey
823 total interviews, Margin of Error +3.4 points
Conducted April 17th18th, 2011
Weighted to accurately reflect adult population based on key city of Seattle Census
demographics
Trained, professional interviewers
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3Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004
Key Findings
Half (50%) of Seattle residents say they do have access to a working bicycle. This is up from 40% in 2012,
but it is not yet clear if this is a trend or a result of sample variance.
Residents who have access to a working bicycle are more likely to be white, male, and under 45
years of age. Older residents and non-white residents are the least likely to have access to aworking bicycle.
Among residents with access to a working bicycle, one-fifth (19%) are regular riders, an increase of 6
points since 2012. 40% are occasional riders, and 40% rarely ride.
Among those who ride a few times a year or more, two-thirds (66%) primarily ride for recreation or
exercise and one third primarily ride as a way to get to a destination (34%). These results are the sameas 2012.
Two thirds (65%) of destination riders are riding 5 miles or less and (43%) are using arterial streets with
bike lanes for most of their riding. A majority (51%) of recreational riders also tend to ride 5 miles or
less, but less than one-fourth (21%) ride 10 or more miles on average. Recreational riders are more likely
to use neighborhood streets (37%) or off-street trails (35%).
Safety (28%), lack of interest (26%), Weather (23%), and hilly terrain (18%) all contribute to not riding
more often among those with access to a bicycle. Not feeling safe riding is the top reason for not riding
more often overall and among destination riders. Recreational riders mention feeling unsafe ( 28% ) as
much as the weather (28%) and being uninterested (26%).
Traffic/cars, few bike lanes/narrow streets, and bad drivers were the top mentions among respondents
who do not ride more often because of safety.
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Access to Bicycle
Q7. Do you currently own or have access to a working bicycle?
Have
Access
50%
No
Access
50%
65%
62%
60%
60%
55%
54%53%
52%
48%
47%
45%
43%
40%40%
31%
27%
M
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5Seattle Department of Transportation | EMC 13-5004
49%
40%
50%51%
60%
50%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2011 2012 2013
Yes No
Access to bicycle by Year
Q7. Do you currently own or have access to a working bicycle?
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Ride frequency
Q9. On average, how often do you ride your bicycle? (n=298; MoE 5.7)
43%40% 40%
24%26%
23%
18%20%
17%
10%5%
11%
4%8% 8%
1% 1% 0%0%
25%
50%
75%
2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
Almost never Few times a year Few times amonth
Few times a week Ride daily Not sure
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32%
34%
34%
68%
66%
66%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
2011
2012
2013
General Recreation Destination
Access to bicycle by Year
Q10. Would you say you primarily ride your bicycle as a way to get to a destination or do you ride more for
general recreation? (n=179 MoE 7.3)
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Average Distance
22%
36%
19% 19%
3%
17%
39%
23%
16%
5%
Two miles or less Two to five miles Six to ten miles More than ten miles Not sure
Ride a few times a year or more
n=179; Margin of Error = 7.3 points
2012 2013
Q11. What is the average distance in miles of a typical bicycle trip for you? (not asked in 2011)
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Bicycle Routes
39%
29%
24%
8%
33%
37%
25%
3%
Neighborhood streets without bike lanes
Arterial streets with bike lanes
Off street trails
Not sure
Ride a few times a year or more
n=179; Margin of Error = 7.3 points
2012 2013
Q12. When riding in Seattle, do you mostly use routes on neighborhood streets without bike lanes,
arterial streets with bike lanes, or use off street trails? (not asked in 2011)
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Barriers to Riding
25%
23%
28%
18%
6%
28%
26%
23%
18%
5%
Dont feel safe riding
Not that interested in riding more often
The weather
The hilly terrain
Not sure
Have Access to Working Bicycle
n=298; Margin of Error = 5.7 points
2012 2013
Q13. What would you say is the biggest reason you do not ride more often, the weather, the hilly terrain, you
dont feel safe riding, or youre just not that interested in riding more often? (not asked in 2011)
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Recreation vs. Destination Riders
26%
39%
25%
6%
3%
34%
43%
19%
4%
25%
15%
35%
19%
12%
39%
22%
21%
6%
37%
22%
35%
4%
28%
14%
28%
26%
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Demographics
50%
50%
13%
26%
19%
16%
13%
13%
8%
72%
2%
13%
5%
Male
Female
16 to 24 years old
25 to 34 years old
35 to 44 years old
45 to 54 years old
55 to 64 years old
65 years or older
African American
White or Caucasian
Hispanic or Latino
Asian
Other