BICYCLE RESEARCH REPORT NO. 74

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1 BICYCLE RESEARCH REPORT NO. 74 August 1996 MOBILITY MODELS AND TRAFFIC BEHAVIOUR by Konrad Goetz Positive attitudes to motoring are also widespread among cyclists The Key Facts Contents Clear and consistent patterns have emerged from traffic behaviour and attitudes in the German cities of Freiburg and Schwerin. A hard core of riskoriented drivers in Freiburg use their cars on 51% of all journeys, but the nature-oriented ones chose the car for only 13%, often preferring public transport, walking and especially cycling (23% of all journeys). With the aid of the German federal research ministry a survey has been carried out in Freiburg and Schwerin among 1000 selected representative adults in each city on their mobility models and traffic behaviour. In both cities the model of car mobility still dominates more than expected; this however is stronger in the East German city of Schwerin than in the West German city of Freiburg. 67% of the Freiburg interviewees - and 83% in Schwerin - said they liked or were very keen on driving. 11% in Freiburg and 7% in Schwerin said, I am seriously considering giving up my car. The results of this survey on lifestyle and attitudes to mobility have been used in a statistical process - factor analysis - to identify the most import- ant elements and differences in mobility models in the two towns in cycling, car mobi1ity, public transport and walking. There was a clear enthusiasm for cycling in Freiburg. The second most important factor was dislike and resentment of cyclists, the third cycling as experience of risk and enjoyment of technology, and the fourth danger and fear when cycling. In Schwerin there is enthusiasm for the bicycle, dislike and resentment of cyclists (as in Freiburg), danger and fear when cycling, admission of cycling so as to incur risks, and finally a fifth factor which is no longer statistically relevant: promotion and control of cycling. (See Appendix 1). Further evaluation of the data by cluster analysis revealed clear links between the various attitudes (views on mobility) and the behaviour of these types; these were described as mobility types. (See Appendix 2).

2 In Freiburg 41% of interviewees belong to the nature-oriented mobility type, a group who like to go walking and rambling in their spare time, show an above-average awareness of the environment and are anxious about possible damage to it. In this group there is a marked enthusiasm for cycling and willingness to consider getting rid of the car; public transport is frequently seen as the locomotion of the future. Nature-oriented people cycle particularly often and use public transport. The second commonest type in Freiburg are the indifferent (24%). These are security-oriented family people who do not hold strong opinions. The risks and aggression of motoring, delight in cycling, cycling as an experience of risks and enjoyment of technology, and even the dangers of cycling are of below average importance for this group; even the car is of below average significance for independence and escape from everyday life. Walking is of above average frequency in this group. The third largest group in Freiburg are the risk-oriented (20% of interviewees.) They willingly admit to risk-taking and aggression when driving, regard the car as a requirement for independence and escape from everyday life, enjoy cycling as an experience of risks and enjoyment of technology and have no desire to walk. Their attitudes to walking are more negative than average, they do not see the public transport network as the locomotion of the future, find travelling by tram unpleasant and object to delays in road traffic much more strongly than the rest of the interviewees. Risk-oriented people travel most by car and cover considerably 1onger-than-average distances, especially at weekends. The smallest group are the status-oriented (15%), whose lifestyle is characterized mainly by leisure and social prestige, but very little by environmental awareness or tolerance. This group especially emphasizes the dangers of cycling, the threat of attack when walking in town at night and their object- ion to public transport. There is an above average tendency to see the car as a status symbol and prestige object indispensable for leisure activities, and to refer to it as a leisure partner. There is very little enthusiasm for cycling, and bicycles are not much used. The most frequently used modes are driving and walking. In Schwerin on the other hand the largest group are the conformists (38%). They frequently refer to the dangers of cycling and dislike of walking and would like to see motor traffic speeds reduced. Risk-taking and aggression among drivers are hardly mentionead. Attitudes of this group to the other opinions and to the mode of transport used are average except at weekends, when distances of above average length are covered. The second largest group in Schwerin are the ambivalent (33%), consisting Bicycle Research Report No. 74, August

3 mainly of women, the elderly, those with low educational qualifications and the lowest income groups. They have an ambivalent attitude to cars, feel threatened when walking in town at night but also reject the car out of concern for the environment. They do not drive or cycle much, walk a lot and use public transport frequently. Their journeys are comparatively short, even at weekends. The third group in Schwerin are the Aggressive (18%). for them a car is a requirement to show they belong; they admit to risk-taking and aggression when driving and dislike and resent cyclists. They find travelling by tram unpleasant, do not regard walking as relaxation or experience of nature and have no enthusiasm for cycling. People in this group travel almost exclusively by car and their average journey length is very high. A fourth group was identified in Schwerin, the pleasure- and experience-oriented (12%). The majority in this group are men, often with low educational qualifications. This type has a hunger for adventure and uses all transport modes as a source of experience. Walking is definitely seen as relaxation and experience of nature, and there is enthusiasm for cycling; but the car is also seen as a partner for experience and adventure, and travelling by tram is thought to be pleasant. The car is mentioned as a requirement for belonging, but is not a vehicle for everyday use or an indispensable leisure-time vehicle. The group s image of trams, walking and cycling is better than the average. Frequency of travel on foot or by bicycle is well above average in this group. Research Author Mobility models and traffic behaviour, paper by Konrad Goetz, of I.S.O.E.- Institute for Socio-ecological Research Ltd., results from a representative survey, interim report on section II, sub-project 1: Mobility models and traffic behaviour. City research association: mobil, Frankfurt 1996 Konrad Goetz, ISOE - Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung GmbH, Hamburger Allee 45, Frankfurt. Tel. 069/70012, Fax. 069/ Bicycle Research Report No. 74, August

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