Grad student's study puts brakes on cycling myths

Friday, June 29, 2012

Kyrylo Cyril Rewa, a Waterloo civil engineering master’s student, has challenged some beliefs about cyclists in a study by the University of Waterloo and Waterloo Region that was presented June 26 among the opening sessions of Velo-city Global 2012 in Vancouver.

Some 400 cyclists kept diaries, filled out surveys and carried GPS devices, tracking the best and worst that the area’s roads have to offer cyclists. Rewa told the audience the research showed that while it has been generally assumed that cyclists ride bicycles because they may not have the money for a car they in fact usually have higher average incomes than the regional norm, and may own a car in their household, but choose to ride a bicycle.

Velo-city Global, the international conference sponsored by the European Cycling Federation, is being held outside of Europe for only the third time, drawing 800 delegates from 41 countries to Vancouver, to discuss cycling infrastructure, planning, technology and advocacy. Among the reps from Australia, Uganda, the U.K., Germany and Korea are dozens of presenters and participants from Ontario universities and municipal governments.