Perceptions of Pedestrian and Cyclist Environments, Travel Behaviors, and Social Networks

The research presented in this paper studied interrelationships within the perceptions of pedestrian and cyclist environments, travel behaviors, and a particular subset of social networks characterized by their being usual trip or activity companions. For this purpose, 404 individuals participated in a web-based survey and provided data related to perceptions of particular elements of pedestrian- and cyclist-specific environments (sidewalks, cycle lanes, and pedestrian crossing), sociodemographics, and characteristics of their usual activity and trip companions. Participants also completed a two-day activity-travel diary. The validity of measurements and reliability of constructs were assessed by mean of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA and CFA) and five models were determined using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to identify relations among the variables of the study. Results highlight the importance of how travel behavior influences the formation of perceptions of elements related to pedestrians and cyclist-specific environments.