Emory Bike Social’s

Commuter Survey Results

Alison Thieberg

Emory Bike Social President

Our Survey

Goal:

• To understand the biking habits of Emory bike commuters (where people bike from, what roads they take, etc.)

​

• To gauge the desires of Emory bike commuters

​

• To understand if Emory bike commuters believe if the proposed path will benefit them

RESULTS

• The most responses came from undergraduate students, professors, staff, and graduate students

• 48 bikers come from the south and would have no use for the path (paths in reds and oranges)

​

• 31 bikers come from the north or along the path and would have use for it (paths in blue)

​

We received 81 responses

RESULTS

• 59.5% of respondents said the path would not improve their commute

• However, since a majority of respondents commute from areas not along the path, we further divided the data to look at just those living along the path in blue

Bikers who could use the path

I would never use it

“I literally live at decatur highlands and work at yerkes, two places along this path, and cannot imagine ever using them. This is pointless and a waste of money. The bicycle infrastructure that emory needs is safety surrounding the 40 mph narrow roads that surround campus, not additional routes through lullwater, which is already easily traversed.”

“The location of the proposed path is absolutely nonsensical and does nothing to actually shorten my commute to campus when compared to the standard Clairmont-Main route via Starvine Way.”

“This new route would more than double my commute. Maybe if I had a lot of time one morning, I could take it. But I generally don’t see myself doing so. I also wouldn’t want to bike up the hill on Peavine Creek Rd to get to my class.”

“Path goes near my commute route, but would make for a much longer trip, does not replace the stretches of busy roads that I already bike, and would deteriorate the Lulwater environment..”

Quotes from those who live along the path and say they would never use it

“Although I could use this path via Medlock Park to go to and from work, it would greatly increase the distance and time to commute to the office each day. For me I find the wood boardwalk path through Medlock Park neighborhood to be nearly as dangerous as the street due to how poorly it is maintained (rotten boards and slippery when wet). It is also improperly used by pedestrians who do not follow the rules that are posted for multi-use paths. In my opinion, DeKalb county should study and allocate resources for safer bike routes originating from nearby population centers in parallel with major thoroughfares to and from campus including N. Decatur Rd from the East and West, Clifton Rd. and Clair(e)mont Rd from the South and Briarcliff Rd from the North.”

SUMMARY

According to respondents who could benefit from this path:

• It provides an indirect and long route
• It does not replace stretches of road that bikers still must traverse
• Efforts to improve commuting conditions would be better spent on improving bike infrastructure on roads

In conclusion:

• The path would not benefit the majority of Emory bike commuters who come from different areas
• The path provides a recreational biking option but does not serve as a direct route for bike commuters
• Bike commuting conditions could improve for everyone if bike lanes were added and improved on the more commonly biked roads near Emory