How do cyclists choose their routes in a city?

Abstract

Many Brazilian cities are now investing in cycle infrastruture projects, encouraged mainly by resources provided by the Ministry of Cities by means of the "Bicicleta Brasil" program. Two of key informations for a cycle network definition are the routes used by the cyclists and why they choose these routes. Thus, it is possible to design the infrastructure for cyclists attending the desire lines of the users. Among the many studies published about this subject, none was found that has been conducted under the conditions of Brazilian cities, with the kind of cyclists that use the roads of these cities. In this context, this research is a first attempt to obtain a better understanding of the interaction between the characteristics of roads and the behavior of cyclists in Brazil, having as the main objectives: to identify the attributes that affect the choice of a route for cyclists and to evaluate their relative importance. To collect data on the routes taken by cyclists, GPSs equipment will be used, which, in conjunction with a Geographic Information System (GIS) offer the ability to obtain precise data on the route traveled, speed, travel time, etc.. (AU)