Cycling in the Crescent City: An exploration of the spatial variation in bicycle commuting in New Orleans

This thesis examines the spatial variation in bicycle commuting across New Orleans. It identifies where in the city bicycle commuting is most and least prevalent. It also explores factors that are promoting and discouraging utilitarian bicycling. A review of existing literature on variables found to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bahr, Emilie S
Format: Others
Published: ScholarWorks@UNO 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1607
http://scholarworks.uno.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2659&context=td
Description
Summary:This thesis examines the spatial variation in bicycle commuting across New Orleans. It identifies where in the city bicycle commuting is most and least prevalent. It also explores factors that are promoting and discouraging utilitarian bicycling. A review of existing literature on variables found to influence transportation bicycling is conducted, and a survey is disseminated to residents across the city to determine some of the motivations for and obstacles to transportation bicycling locally. Additionally, case studies are compiled pertaining to two neighborhoods falling on opposite ends of the bike-commute spectrum. These include analysis of socio-economic and demographic data; an evaluation of the built environment using maps and field observation; and interviews to assess residents’ attitudes about and experiences with transportation bicycling. In the end, this thesis should be helpful in pinpointing variables influencing bicycle commute rates and in determining the types of policies and investments that may be most effective in encouraging more bicycling in New Orleans and across the country.