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Campus Bicycle Network Survey

Fall 2004

Who was involved?

UConn ITE

The student chapter of ITE is a membership-based association of students who are future traffic engineers, transportation planners and other professionals in related fields of study who are responsible for meeting society's needs for safe and efficient surface transportation through planning, design, and evaluation of transportation systems.

The key ITE members involved in the Campus Bicycle Network Plan project included: Stephanie Centofonti, Eric Jackson, Craig Jordan, Jeffrey LaMondia, and Stephanie Mather.

The EcoHusky Student Group

The UConn EcoHusky students are a group of environmentally-minded students from various majors that work to assist in the development and preservation of an environmentally sustainable future, not only for UConn, but also for the surrounding area. The EcoHusky students participate in environmental projects like river cleanup and helping to educate the University on methods to reduce waste production.

The Goal: A Bicycle Master Plan

Many campuses and cities have a bicycle transportation plan. They include components such as the goals and policies pertaining to bicycle usage, design guidelines for bicycle friendly development, creating and maintaining an inventory of the existing bicycle transportation network, an evaluation of the level of service the current bicycle network is providing, as well as the development of programs and activities to encourage bicycle transportation. The UConn ITE student chapter’s objective was to gather information about bicycling and bicycle transportation needs and then work with the UConn administration to include a bicycle master plan in their overall campus planning efforts. Ultimately, the student members of the ITE presented the results of the survey, in addition to a written report, to University Senior Administration as well as the Campus Master Plan committee in an effort to promote bicycle usage on campus.

Building an Information Foundation: Surveying

During November, 2004, the UConn student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the UConn EcoHusky students worked together to carry out the first stages of the UConn Campus Bicycle Network, a project to aid in the future design and development of the Storrs campus. For roughly two weeks, ITE and EcoHusky students distributed and collected surveys throughout campus, asking for input on how to make UConn a safer, more desirable place to ride a bicycle. The main survey stations were placed at the UConn Co-op, Student Union, the CLAS building, South Dining Hall and Northwest Dining Hall. Students and faculty were asked via a campus-wide email to either stop by one of these locations to fill out a brief survey regarding their bicycle usage or their reasons for not biking, or to fill out an online survey accessible through a link included in the email. To ensure the integrity of the survey, the online version was designed to ensure that only one entry per individual would be allowed.

To view the Campus Bike Plan survey click here.

Through the 2,100 responses, which poured in, participants voiced their opinions relating to current bike routes and conditions. The survey found that most respondents believe:

Bicycling is convenient and an extremely efficient mode of transportation. Most respondents felt that bicycling was a good way to travel.

While respondents enjoyed bicycling, they felt that, at the University of Connecticut (UConn), roadways and intersections were too dangerous, and without bike lanes, it was difficult to share pathways with pedestrians. Overall, travel at UConn was difficult.

Respondents also voiced their desire for better bicycle programs, such as a rent-a-bike program on campus, as well as the need for more bike racks around campus.

The survey established a consensus that biking is an important part of every University. Participants agreed that bicycling has many benefits, including:

Replaces on-campus vehicular traffic

Decreases parking demand

Promotes a vibrant campus

Supports LEED Certification

Better connects the campus

Efficient way to get around

Supports sustainability

Helps improve the environment

Connects the University to surrounding areas

Campus Bicycle Survey to Aid in Sustainable Campus Development

Overall Survey Results:

Campus Bicycle Network Plan Survey

(UConn Storrs Campus, Fall 2004)

The following is a compilation of the 2105 surveys collected from students, faculty, and staff at the Storrs UConn Campus. Surveys were collected by hand around campus by EcoHusky and ITE volunteers and also through an online survey publicized through a listserv email. The purpose of collecting this data was to describe the current campus bike use and identify the UConn community’s thoughts on future bike usage and bike-promoting initiatives. It is important to recognize that the sample population characteristics are well representative of the Storrs campus population as well.

Q1. Do you own a bike?