Content
Cyclists’ surveys roll in
Surveys filled out by local cyclists are already starting to roll in as a University of the Sunshine Coast student research project progresses.
Teams of Planning students were grateful for one morning of clear weather last Wednesday as they surveyed bike path commuters at four popular locations.
USC Regional and Urban Planning Lecturer Dr Claudia Baldwin said the students recorded observations and handed out survey forms.
She said the next step would be collating and examining the data to report on people’s motivations for, and attitudes towards, travelling by bicycle to work.
“The cyclists they saw ranged from school children to experienced commuters in their 70s,” Dr Baldwin said.
At Alexandra Parade, for example, more cyclists seemed to be using the road rather than the path because of the number of pedestrians.
“And McKenzie Bridge near Minyama seems to be a stress point in the network because the width of 1.8 metres is not sufficient for cyclists to pass each other or pedestrians,” she said.
The survey locations also included Stringybark Road roundabout in front of the University and Lady Musgrave Drive near Mountain Creek State High.
The research, supported by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, will be compared against findings from last March.
Dr Baldwin expected the research to be used by two levels of government to improve planning and implementation of bikeway infrastructure.
The students’ work will contribute to their regional and urban planning degrees.
“They learn the importance and challenges of getting good data for planning,” she said.
– Julie Gatehouse