Cycling in general has had resurgence over the last two decades, and this has included an increase in commuting cycling. However, many indicate that they while they may like to commute by bicycle, weather conditions are an inhibiting factor. This study, which extends an earlier study of tertiary student commuter cyclists in Melbourne, Australia, examines the effect of short term weather conditions and longer term seasonal or climatic changes on cyclists' decision to ride. It uses a sample of commuters in Melbourne who were surveyed by a questionnaire distributed on a key off-road bike path. The results for non-students are similar to the student commuters, and indicate that weather conditions have relatively little effect on ridership. However, commuting does typically diminish during the winter period, and some weather conditions, especially heavy rain, do affect numbers. In brief, those who ride, do so consistently and under most conditions. The results suggest that an understanding of these factors could encourage a greater use of bicycles for commuting. (a).
Abstract