The usefulness of GPS bicycle tracking data for evaluating the impact of infrastructure change on cycling behaviour. (1st September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heesch, Kristiann C.; Langdon, Michael
• Is Part Of: Health promotion journal of Australia. Volume 27:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 222
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2016-09-01
• Subjects: built environment -- evaluation -- exercise -- physical activity; Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health promotion -- Australia -- Periodicals; 613.0994
• DOI: 10.1071/HE16032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1036-1073

Abstract

Abstract : Issue addressed: A key strategy to increase active travel is the construction of bicycle infrastructure. Tools to evaluate this strategy are limited. This study assessed the usefulness of a smartphone GPS tracking system for evaluating the impact of this strategy on cycling behaviour. Methods: Cycling usage data were collected from Queenslanders who used a GPS tracking app on their smartphone from 2013–2014. 'Heat' and volume maps of the data were reviewed, and GPS bicycle counts were compared with surveillance data and bicycle counts from automatic traffic‐monitoring devices. Results: Heat maps broadly indicated that changes in cycling occurred near infrastructure improvements. Volume maps provided changes in counts of cyclists due to these improvements although errors were noted in geographic information system (GIS) geo‐coding of some GPS data. Large variations were evident in the number of cyclists using the app in different locations. These variations limited the usefulness of GPS data for assessing differences in cycling across locations. Conclusion: Smartphone GPS data are useful in evaluating the impact of improved bicycle infrastructure in one location. Using GPS data to evaluate differential changes in cycling across multiple locations is problematic when there is insufficient traffic‐monitoring devices available to triangulate GPS data with bicycle traffic count data. So what?: The use of smartphone GPS data with other data sources is recommended for assessing how infrastructure improvements influence cycling behaviour. Abstract : This study assessed the usefulness of a smartphone GPS tracking system for evaluating the impact of bicycle infrastructure improvements on behavioural outcomes. Findings suggested that smartphone GPS data can supplement, not replace, existing data sources, in evaluating the impact of bicycle infrastructure improvements.