Perceptions Matter:
Understanding Active Transportation at UCLA Elizabeth Devietti Client: UCLA Department of Transportation Faculty Chair: Professor Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris
What is the issue? Active transportation is defined as non-motorized transport, namely walking and bicycling, as a means to, from and around the community (Victoria Transport Policy Institute). With the shift in the car-centric attitude, there is now a greater focus on enabling modes of active transportation to help promote more active and healthier lifestyles. Universities and areas of higher education have a unique environment where they can create communities of novel ideas and changes that can affect not only the individuals within that community, but in the surrounding areas as well (Tolley 1996). Through this study, the ways to promote, expand and enhance active transportation will take into account both real and perceived concerns in order to have the greatest, widespread effect at UCLA and beyond.
Study Design Perception Survey: an 11-question survey distributed via email to all UCLA faculty, students and staff who live within 5 miles of campus. The survey serves to better identify the motivating factors behind active commuting.
Next Steps From the survey and field reivew information, the most influential elements affecting active transportation will be identified and implemented into UCLA’s Active Transportation Plan, a master plan that incorporates the bicycle and pedestrian needs of the campus.
Field Review: an observational, on-foot review of the UCLA campus to better understand and identify existing barriers to active transportation.
Research Questions 1. What are the factors that may encourage a UCLA commuter to use active means of transportation? 2. What are the challenges/barriers? 3. How do these barriers differ based on demographic differences? 4. What types of policies/interventions can achieve higher levels of active transportation?
Photographs from field review. Clockwise from top left: bicycle locked to street pole; pedestrian walking in designated bicycle lane; contraflow bicycle lane on De Neve Dr.; example of high visibility crosswalk pedestrian intervention; green back sharrows on Royce Dr.; bicycle racks outside of Perloff Hall positioned in the incorrect direction; unveiling of Strathmore Dr. bicycle counter; MURP Hyeran Lee & Planner/consultant Ryan Snyder observing pedestrian activity; bicycles locked to a fence outside of the Fowler Museum