Suitability of Potential ArborBike Station
Potential cyclist density (20%)
Background
Problem & research
Variable of suitability
Data processing
In summer 2014, Ann Arbor launched a new bike share program ArborBike. In the initial phase, there are 14 ArborBike stations located in downtown Ann Arbor and the campus of University of Michigan. This program is highly spoken of by many people, including residents, students and university staffs. However, there is still space to improve the program, one of which would be installing more stations.
The major problems would be: How do we determine what locations are suitable for new ArborBike stations? What qualities do those locations need to possess?
Upon research, we defined 5 categories and 7 variables to quantify the suitability of potential ArborBike stations: 1 Destination density: to find out where most people frequently go. 2 Crime distribution: cyclists always prefer safer places to ride. 3 Bus stop coverage: proximity to public transit means convenience to transfer. 4 Potential cyclist density: to locate potential focus group. 5 Bikeability: 5.1 Bike route density: the denser the bike routes, the more comfortable to ride. 5.2 Bike route separation: dedicated bike routes increase safety and comfort. 5.3 Topography: the slope of road surface affects safety and comfort.
We collected and input the origianl data which is shown in the smaller maps. After that, we used different GIS spatial analysis tools to process the data which is shown in the larger maps. In order to make comparison easier, we reclassified the values in each map into 7 intervals which could be seen in the legends.
Given this context, we’d like to study the suitability of potential ArborBike stations in a quantitative way to help improve people’s experience as well as further promote the program.
We read a lot of papers, reports and surveys pertaining to this topic. We found that there are many factors that people take into consideration when choosing a location for bike station. Among those factors, the keywords with the highest frequency are “bikeability”, “pubilc transit”, “safety”, “destination” and “distribution of potential users”.
We considered that the 5 categories are of the same importance, therefore, we assigned equal weights (20%) to each category. Finally, we combined the 7 variables and came up with the final map identifying the suitability of potential ArborBike stations.
Composition After the spatial analyses done previously, we came up with the composition map, from which we could draw some conclusions about the suitable locations for potential ArborBike stations. 1 Downtown Ann Arbor still needs more stations since all kinds of destinations are highly concentrated here.
(People)
42 - 106 107 - 139 140 - 173 174 - 198 199 - 257 258 - 347 348 - 553
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI Social explorer U.S. census
2 About 1 mile south to downtown, there is a great need of bike stations because it is where the south campus and the stadium are located.
(People per mi²) 233 - 300 301 - 600 601 - 900 901 - 1200 1201 - 1500 1501 - 1800 >= 1801
miles 3 3miles
3 The northeast and the southeast of Ann Arbor are also suitable locations probably because a good number of cyclists live in those places.
20% Destination density 20% Crime distribution
Suitability Low 1 2 3
20% Bus stop coverage
20% Bikeability
Destination density (20%)
Destination
Major street
6.7% Bike route separation
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI Social explorer U.S. census Crime mapping
Bus stop coverage (20%)
Crime location
Bike route density (6.7%)
Existing bike route Planned bike route Shared-use path Marginal Sidewalk Unpaved connector
Bus stop
Distance (foot)
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI
0 - 10 11 - 30 31 - 60 61 - 100 101 -150 151 - 240 241 - 360
miles 3 3miles
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI Crime mapping U.S. census
0 1-7 8 - 16 17 - 25 26 - 43 44 - 100 >= 101
miles 3 3miles
Ann Arbor
City boundary
6.7% Topography
Crime distribution (20%)
6 High
River & waterbody
Composition
6.7% Bike route density 3 miles
5
Existing ArborBike station
20% Potential cyclist distribution
Existing ArborBike station
4
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI
0 - 440 441 - 880 881 - 1320 1321 - 1760 1761 - 2200 2201 - 2640 2641 - 4000
miles 3 3miles
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI
3 miles
Bike route separation (6.7%)
Topography (6.7%)
Existing bike route Planned bike route
0-3 4-6 7-9 10 - 12 13 - 15 16 - 18 19 - 23
Elevation (foot) 326
Percentage rise (%) 227
miles 3 3miles
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI
Yes No
miles 3 3miles
Data Source: City of Ann Arbor ESRI
0-1 2 3-4 5-7 8 - 10 11 - 15 16 - 45
miles 3 3miles