On thursday afternoon I met with Marni Ratzel and Chris Hagelin, both City of Boulder transportation planners. They were eager to give me their insights to possible topics to study concerning bicycle transportation here in Boulder. Chris in particular, seemed exited to have me working on things it seemed he would love to study given more time. They presented me with a number of topics for possible research projects as outlined below:
1. Researching crash statistics on the Broadway bike path. Measuring perceived versus actual dangers. Using crash analysis software to determine counter measures to crash types. Possible policy implications for changing speeds or cycling behavior along path. Possible follow up social marketing/safety campaign.
2. Safe Routes to School. Looking at parent's travel behavior and travel fears. Gauging perceptions v. reality. Are parent fears justified? (Definite overlap with Kelly's project. If I took this direction, i could possibly form my own project based on some of Kelly's research, or use her as a great contact.)
3. Wayfinding on the Boulder Creek path system. Determining locations for better directional information. Signage, maps, visitor's orientation tools. Possible link to boulder businesses/cost sharing based on advertising
4. Improvements to GO Bike Boulder website. Collecting and entering personal route suggestions into GIS database/program
5. Estimating a more accurate bicycle-mode share. Researching criteria to create guidelines for a standardized bike-count methodology.
6. Bicycling perception and behavior of adolescents and teens. Why bicycling isn't 'cool' in high school, but then becomes socially acceptable in college. Determining social barriers to cycling to school.
7. CU transportation trends: students vs. faculty. Differences in barriers, costs, benefits, facilities etc.
2. Safe Routes to School. Looking at parent's travel behavior and travel fears. Gauging perceptions v. reality. Are parent fears justified? (Definite overlap with Kelly's project. If I took this direction, i could possibly form my own project based on some of Kelly's research, or use her as a great contact.)
3. Wayfinding on the Boulder Creek path system. Determining locations for better directional information. Signage, maps, visitor's orientation tools. Possible link to boulder businesses/cost sharing based on advertising
4. Improvements to GO Bike Boulder website. Collecting and entering personal route suggestions into GIS database/program
5. Estimating a more accurate bicycle-mode share. Researching criteria to create guidelines for a standardized bike-count methodology.
6. Bicycling perception and behavior of adolescents and teens. Why bicycling isn't 'cool' in high school, but then becomes socially acceptable in college. Determining social barriers to cycling to school.
7. CU transportation trends: students vs. faculty. Differences in barriers, costs, benefits, facilities etc.
I took the weekend to mull over the list. I dont think I am 100% sold on just one idea yet, but I have been thinking more about options 5 and 6. Researching how to more accurately estimate the bicycle-mode share would be mostly literature-based. While it would certainly be applicable and useful for future studies done by the city, I'm also thinking it could turn out to be a lot less tangible than I would like.
Researching high school students' perception of transportation cycling could yield a really interesting study. Safe Routes to School has generated a lot of interest in how elementary-aged children get to and from school, but I have not come across any similar investigations being done in older kids and teens. I'm also attracted to the idea of a survey-study. Knowing how to write an effective survey is so crucial to the research process. Learning how to do that early in my research career is not a bad idea.
For the coming week I'm going to see what background information I can gather on high school students and cycling behavior. I'm hoping Chris and Marni have some good references to toss my way.
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