TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2008

www.PosterPresentations.com

Community and Local Government Partnership to Improve Bikeability in a Small South Carolina City

Janet R. Wojcik, Ph.D1., Susan Collier, M.S., R.D., L.D2, Thomas Bell, B.S3., George Davis4, Francis Rizzo4, Brianne Gemeinhardt, M.S1.1Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, 2South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, 3City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism, 1, 2, 3Eat Smart Move More York

County, 4Rock Hill Bicycle Club. Sponsor: Melanie Poudevigne, Ph.D., FACSM

Email: wojcikj@winthrop.edu

Abstract

Background and Purpose

Participants

• Adults 18 and older

•N= 113 for Citizens Survey

•N = 124 for Road Cyclists Survey

• Variety of age groups responding; no

differences between surveys (p = .173)

Instruments

Procedures

Event Photos

Acknowledgments

Supported by Eat Smart Move More South

Carolina, Communities in Balance: Balancing

InTake and Energy Expenditure (BITE) grant

Rock Hill is diverse, growing city of 62,000 residents in the upstate of

South Carolina (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006), and home to a regional state

university with 6,500 students. Improving biking and pedestrian access

are part of the City’s 2020 Master Plan and an economic development

initiative for a ―college town‖ atmosphere (www.collegetownrockhill.com).

PURPOSE: To develop and perform community-wide surveys of citizens

and road cyclists on bikeability in Rock Hill, SC and to assist the City of

Rock Hill with priorities for placement of sharrows, ―Share the Road‖

signs, and dedicated bike lanes. METHODS: Surveys (13 questions) for

citizens and road cyclists were developed using the National Highway

Transportation and Safety Commission Bikeability Checklist

(www.nhtsa.gov), Bikeability Toolkit (Travelsmart Australia, 2006), and

tailored for local content validity through the City of Rock Hill, Rock Hill

Bicycle Club, and members of Eat Smart Move More York County

community coalition. Surveys were circulated over a three-month period

in hard copy at cycling-related events, local bicycle shops, and

electronically through the Bike Rock Hill webpage and community and

campus listservs. All data, including hard copies, were entered in an

online survey database. RESULTS: Responses were n=113 for citizens

and n=124 for road cyclists. There were no differences in age groups

responding (p = .173). On the citizens survey, 89.4% responded ―Yes‖ to ―I

would ride my bike more often if conditions were safer‖ (χ2 (1) = 70.1, p =

.000). More road cyclists reported being mistreated by motorists (80% vs.

55%, Z = -3.538, p = .000). There were no differences in ratings of road

conditions with 65% in both groups rating ―very poor‖ and ―poor‖ (Z = -

1.602, p = .109). Roads suggested for bike lanes, sharrows, or ―Share the

Road‖ signs were mostly in the downtown or campus area.

CONCLUSIONS: Both citizens and road cyclists desire improvements

such as sharrows, dedicated bike lanes, ―Share the Road‖ signs, better

connectivity, improved road conditions, and better education and

relationships with motorists. Findings will be used to guide City policy

decisions and application towards a Bicycle-Friendly Community

Conclusions

Both citizens and road cyclists desire

improvements such as sharrows, dedicated bike

lanes, ―Share the Road‖ signs, better connectivity,

improved road conditions, and better education

and relationships with motorists. Findings are

being used to guide City policy decisions and

application towards a Bicycle-Friendly Community.

Bike Rock Hill continues to support biking and

pedestrian initiatives through an ACHIEVE grant

funded by the CDC and National Parks and

Recreation Association

Rock Hill is a diverse, growing city of 62,000 in the

Upstate of South Carolina, considered part of the

Charlotte, NC, MSA.

Recent initiatives include:

•Marketing the downtown historic district as a

destination for entertainment, family-related events

•Farmers’ market and local foods

(www.onlyinoldtown.com)

• Linkage with the campus community as a ―college

town‖ atmosphere (www.collegetownrockhill.com).

Improving biking and pedestrian access are part of

the City’s 2020 Master Plan approved Fall 2010. No

dedicated bike lanes currently exist within city

or county limits. Therefore, there was a need to

assess current bikeability to help guide the plan,

and Bike Rock Hill was formed..

•Surveys circulated over a 3-month period Spring

2010

•Electronic listervs through campus,

community, Bike Rock Hill website

•Hard copies and flyers at local bicycle shops

and cycling events

•All data entered in Survey Monkey, including

hard copies

•Imported to Excel

•SPSS descriptive and non-parametric analyses

• Surveys developed based on National

Highway Transportation and Safety

Commission Bikeability Checklist

(www.nhtsa.gov) and checklists from the

Bikeability Toolkit (Travelsmart Australia,

2006).

•Questions were tailored for local relevance.

•Content validity was determined by a panel

of experts from the City of Rock Hill, Rock Hill

Bicycle Club, and members of Eat Smart

Move More York County community coalition.

•Each survey was brief at 13 multiple-choice

questions, including demographic data, plus

space for open-ended comments.

The Mayor’s Ride

Bicycle

Rodeo

New Bicycle Racks at City Hall designed by Winthrop Fine Arts Students

Survey Question Citizens Road Cyclists

Have you ever been mistreated by a

motorist? (check all that apply)

(Z = -3.538, p = .000)

No –45.2%

Car rode too close when passing –46.1%

Verbally harassed –27.0%

Drove too fast—25.2%

Cut me off –27.0%

Threw an object—12.2%

No –20.0%

Car rode too close when passing –74.2%

Verbally harassed –54.2%

Drove too fast—50.8%

Cut me off –43.3%

Threw an object—20.8%

How would you rate overall road

conditions in Rock Hill and York

County?

(Z = -1.602, p = .109)

Very Poor—25.0%

Poor—40.2%

Satisfactory—32.1%

Good—32.1%

Excellent—0%

Very Poor—21.3%

Poor—44.3%

Satisfactory—23.8%

Good—8.2%

Excellent—2.5%

How could Rock Hill become more

bike-friendly? (check all that apply)

Add bike lanes or sharrows—91.3%

More multi-use trails—79.1%

―Share the Road‖ signs—57.4%

Place to park bikes—50.4%

Educate motorists—53.9%

Decrease speed limits—23.5%

Educate riders—27.8%

Other—14.8%

Add bike lanes or sharrows—94.2%

Better connectivity—69.4%

Education for bikes, motorists, & police—

54.5%

―Share the Road‖ signs—53.9%

Other—25.6%

Citizens Survey Result Only

89.4% responded “Yes” to ―I would ride my bike

more often if conditions were safer‖ (χ2 (1) =

70.1, p = .000).