The Metro Bike team together with Metro Research just completed an online survey of their current bike locker holders. The online survey collected data on several satisfaction indicators as well as trip type, distance, and demographics. Satisfaction feedback will help the bike team improve service, and trip data helps us see how the lockers are being used. Jeff Boberg, head of Metro Research, comments on the trip data: “I really think this is a great aspect that doesn’t always get enough attention: if we care about reducing congestion and cleaner air, we should be looking for cost effective alternatives for lowering car trips without decreasing mobility, and the bike locker program is very cost effective.”

Read on for the key findings!

The bike lockers scored well on all the key indicators, especially price and safety.

Percentage of Locker Holders Satisfied by Issue

Almost all of locker holders claim they would not use a rack if the lockers were not available.

If there were no lockers, would you use a rack?

Trip Type

Trip Purpose

Almost half of locker holders used to drive for at least part of their trip before they had a locker.

Before you had this locker, how did you complete this trip?

Looks like the biggest reason the riders ride is for exercise, but there are other important factors as well.

Motivation

Average trip lengths are short, around 3 miles, but frequency of use is high, usually 4-5 times per week. Using trip distance & frequency, we estimate that the lockers accommodate over 5,900 “bike passenger miles” per week. And since almost half of the locker holders (and the ones that bike farther and more frequently) have left their cars for their bikes, the lockers help to replace 1,900 vehicle miles per week.

Average Trip Length

Frequency of Use

Locker holders have mid-range to expensive bicycles (the kind you’d want to keep in a locker instead of the racks), which may explain some of the demographic data that follows.

Bike Value

Demographic data reveals that bike locker holders are mostly male, consistent with national cycling data. They are more likely to be white, Asian and have higher incomes than Metro Bus and Rail Patrons. This may be skewed by the fact that the survey was conducted online. A paper version will be available next year. The locker holders are older than you might picture a typical bike commuter.

Income

Ethnicity

Gender

Age

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