Cycling route choice preferences: A taste heterogeneity and exogenous segmentation analysis based on age, gender, Geller typology, and e-bike use

Abstract

A range of factors influences cyclists’ route choices, yet infrastructure design often fails to account for the diverse preferences and needs of different groups. This study examines cycling route choice preferences using revealed preference GPS data from Melbourne, Australia. Path Size Logit (PSL) and Mixed Path Size Logit models are estimated to capture path correlation due to overlapping routes and taste heterogeneity in route choice preferences among cyclist groups, segmented by age, gender, e-bike use, and Geller typology. Using a hybrid generalized Breadth-First Search on Link Elimination (BFS-LE) approach, the study enhances the quality and diversity of the generated choice set. Results indicate significant taste heterogeneity in route choices, with distinct preferences across cyclist segments. Risk-averse cyclists, particularly women and the “interested but concerned” group, showed a strong preference for protected bike lanes and off-road paths. In contrast, more confident cyclists, such as “enthused and confident,” exhibited greater flexibility and were less sensitive to infrastructure types, slopes, and turns. Traditional bike riders were found to be more sensitive to infrastructure variability compared to e-bike users. Findings also revealed that cyclists, on average, perceived a 1 % increase in the proportion of a route on an off-road bike path as equivalent to a reduction of 80 m in trip length, though this effect varied across individuals. Similarly, a 1 % increase in the proportion of a route on a protected bike lane was, on average, equivalent to a reduction of 61 m, while each additional turn was perceived, on average, as adding 121 m, highlighting the variability in how route complexity influences cyclists’ choices. Overall, the study offers valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, emphasizing the need for inclusive cycling infrastructure that accommodates the diverse preferences of different cyclist groups to encourage broader participation.