by Michelle Vrudhula, COO
Our goal as public opinion researchers is to inform change. We can see the effects of our efforts in new or changing government policies, improved products, news headlines, better government/corporate messaging, etc. Sometimes, these effects can hit closer to home, which can be really exciting!
In 2017, ReconMR was commissioned to conduct a study within the City of Austin in order to better understand bicycle riding behaviors. This study was modeled in part after the work of Roger Geller of the Portland, Oregon Bureau of Transportation (2006) and a subsequent follow-up study by Professor Jennifer Dill, Ph.D. and Research Associate Nathan McNeil of the Nohad A.Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University. While this study integrated Geller’s “Four Types of Cyclists” typology, the design of the research was adapted to better fit the needs and peculiarities of the Austin community. As with the studies cited above, the design went beyond measuring just the behaviors and characteristics among cyclists alone in order to better understand the extent to which cycling in general and specific behaviors and attitudes exist in the total population of adults.
Our study was used to inform the specific types of bicycle lanes and barriers needed to meet the needs of bicycle riders encourage increased ridership and safety on various types of roads within the city. As roads and infrastructure were reconstructed, and some of us began using these new bicycle lanes, we were able to see and experience firsthand the changes our research was able to affect.