OP
OP
almostvegancyclist
Regular
- Location
- Wales
Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants
- Thread starter almostvegancyclist
- Start date
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twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
Done
OP
OP
almostvegancyclist
Regular
- Location
- Wales
Thank you!
- Location
- Essex
Sorry, this survey is not currently active.
This is what i get when i click on the link?
Nibor
Bewildered
- Location
- Accrington
I get the same
OP
OP
almostvegancyclist
Regular
- Location
- Wales
Thank you for your interest! The survey is on hold at the moment. I will update the thread once it is open again.
OP
OP
almostvegancyclist
Regular
- Location
- Wales
I have re-opened the survey, and will keep it open for the next two weeks! Thanks everyone for your interest.
Link:
https://openss.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8reAg64LmVgrjJs
Link:
https://openss.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8reAg64LmVgrjJs
Nibor
Bewildered
- Location
- Accrington
Done good survey
FishFright
More wheels than sense
Done and a decent survey
OP
OP
almostvegancyclist
Regular
- Location
- Wales
Many thanks to everyone who kindly took part. I've now closed the survey with 240 responses collected!
Here's a poster showing what I've found. The responses show there are five groups of motivators for cycling. Daily cyclists scored higher on all except 'Sports and socialising' compared to non-daily cyclists. Please feel free to share what you think about the results! (I can't make the resolution any higher, sorry)
Here's a poster showing what I've found. The responses show there are five groups of motivators for cycling. Daily cyclists scored higher on all except 'Sports and socialising' compared to non-daily cyclists. Please feel free to share what you think about the results! (I can't make the resolution any higher, sorry)
Tom B
Guru
- Location
- Lancashire
Thanks for coming back with the results.
Have you drawn any further conclusions?
From what I read above it rather confirms my own thoughts, particularly around motivation for cycling being highly complex and highly personal.
Probably could say the same for the reasons people don't cycle despite the well-worn reasons people give for not doing.
Have you drawn any further conclusions?
From what I read above it rather confirms my own thoughts, particularly around motivation for cycling being highly complex and highly personal.
Probably could say the same for the reasons people don't cycle despite the well-worn reasons people give for not doing.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Thanks for posting your results @almostvegancyclist It's actually quite rare for someone to do this. I can't remember if I did your survey. The large number of "tip and run" posters of poorly designed surveys has rather undermining my motivation to do them.
I guess the daily cyclists are more likely to be undertaking utility cycling to get somewhere, rather than the non-daily dilettantes (like me) who are more likely to cycle for cycling's sake - hence the latter preferring "sports and socialising". Although I'd need a fairly loose definition of "sport" as any kind of elective physical exercise, and "social" as going on about two or three group rides a year.
I guess the daily cyclists are more likely to be undertaking utility cycling to get somewhere, rather than the non-daily dilettantes (like me) who are more likely to cycle for cycling's sake - hence the latter preferring "sports and socialising". Although I'd need a fairly loose definition of "sport" as any kind of elective physical exercise, and "social" as going on about two or three group rides a year.
I don't know if this is the first time anyone has updated the thread with a summary, but it certainly feels that way. Good work!
Jody
Stubborn git
I don't usually get involved in here but it is nice to see someone come back with results and an update.
OP
OP
almostvegancyclist
Regular
- Location
- Wales
Thanks for your comments. Yes, it's nothing groundbreaking, mostly confirms what we intuitively know as cyclists.
For me, it reminds us that there's a lot of work to be done in legitimising the bicycle as a daily mode of transport, for commuting, shopping, even transporting children and adults. There's a perception that cycling is a hobby reserved for serious riders, but in fact daily cyclists value the bicycle for its utility, environmental benefits, and the independence that it gives them.
This is not to say that we should be anti-road cycling. The factors correlate highly, and cyclists are likely to draw their motivations from more than one factor. Someone who enjoys cycling for one reason is more likely to see its other benefits than someone who doesn't cycle.
It's also interesting that the bicycle can be used to express oneself. One of the reasons people are dependent on cars is their symbolic value. Cars serve as symbols of wealth, personality, and status for many people. For people who want to reduce driving, this need for symbolic expression has to be fulfilled through a different outlet, and perhaps they can do that with a bicycle. For this, cycling brands need to create iconic products that are recognisable by everyone, even people who don't cycle. Something like Brompton bikes might come close to this.
But the cycling industry seems to be focusing on niche products that appeal to very specific groups of cyclists. The problem with this is that for most people, a £10,000 aero racing bike and a £500 Decathlon bike look the same (this is my educated speculation, however) so these expensive products have symbolic capital only amongst cycling enthusiasts.
In general, I think that for cycling to grow in the UK, it needs other vehicles to carry it forward, such as public health, fashion, environmentalism, reducing congestion, etc. Why we, as regular cyclists, enjoy and continue cycling is one thing, but how to raise its public and political profile seems to be another thing.