Research has identified a number of very different types of cyclists. The new cyclist typology developed as part of a project by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) on cycling in old age has a number of distinctive features that often set it apart from other typologies.
- It is theory-based.
- It is based on a large representative sample (N=2.031).
- It is based on a comprehensive, standardized questionnaire.
- The questionnaire was used in an extensive face-to-face survey.
- It is aimed at the target group of older cyclists (aged 65 and over).
The typology of older cyclists was created using cluster analysis. In this statistical procedure, only statements that captured attitudes toward cycling were used to form the types. The frequency of cycling, the purposes of cycling, or cycling habits, for example, were not included in the cluster analysis, but were subsequently used to describe the identified attitude clusters in more detail. A total of seven types emerged:
The avid cycling enthusiast (18.2 %) has the most positive attitude toward cycling and also covers by far the most kilometers by bike in seven days. In this group, it is relatively common to ride a regular bike at least several times a week (33.9 %). In addition, this type of cyclist is most likely to cycle habitually and most often uses their bike to run everyday errands, such as shopping, going to the doctor, to the bank, or to the pharmacy. The goal of cycling more often in the future is most pronounced in this group. The assessment of having the necessary skills for safe cycling is most pronounced in this group. Their general state of health is the second most positive. This group includes more women (60.8 %) than men and the second highest number of people with higher education (27.2 %). This type engages in a range of leisure activities most frequently or second most frequently.
The car-critical, risk-aware cycling enthusiast (12.1 %) is highly enthusiastic about cycling, demands higher quality bicycle equipment, and accepts higher costs for purchasing a bicycle. Despite a positive overall assessment of cycling, this group is more likely to believe that cycling is physically demanding, that the risk of accidents is high, that car drivers are more reckless, and that cycling is more stressful. This type most frequently rides a normal bicycle at least several times a week (36.5 %), is the second most frequent habitual bicycle rider overall, and is the second most frequent bicycle rider for everyday tasks. The goal of cycling more often in the future is the second most pronounced in this group. Driving a car scores lowest in the assessment of this group of cyclists. In addition, encounters with motorists are perceived most negatively. This type of cyclist often engages in a range of quiet leisure activities, such as reading books or visiting exhibitions. There are more women (54.5 %) than men in this group of cyclists. People aged 75 and over are the second most represented group (46 %).
The car-loving, optimistic, active type (13.7 %) also views cycling very positively. This type is clearly the least concerned about the potential risk of accidents when cycling. They greatly appreciate the many advantages of using a car and, as cyclists, have the least negative experiences with motorists. This group of cyclists includes the most people who drive a car themselves at least several times a week (66.5 %). Despite their clearly positive assessment of cycling, this type cycles less frequently and less habitually than the car-critical, risk-aware cycling enthusiast and the avid cycling enthusiast. Although the car-loving, optimistic, active type reports the fewest violations when cycling, they are also the most likely to report having cycled under the influence of alcohol several times (32.3 %). They have a very strong belief that they have the necessary skills to behave safely as cyclists. This type has the most positive general state of health. This type is super active in his leisure time. Some of the stuff he likes to do includes “going on short trips”, “taking longer trips”, “tinkering with his bike”, and “driving around in his car/motorcycle.” There are significantly more men (65 %) than women in this cycling group. This group has the lowest proportion of people with a low level of education (42.9 %) and the highest proportion of people with a higher level of education (28.6 %). This type has the highest proportion of people living in urban areas (49.8 %).
The uninterested occasional cyclist (22.7 %) tends to have a negative opinion of cycling. Overall, this type has by far the least noticeable attitudes, seeing neither particular advantages nor particular disadvantages in cycling. In this group, it is less common for those affected to ride a normal bicycle several times a week (24.1 %). The uninterested occasional cyclist complains the least about the condition of bike paths, uneven surfaces, or obstructed visibility on bike paths. This type also complains the least about frequent long waits at traffic lights. This group includes approximately equal proportions of women (50.5 %) and men. The youngest age group (65-69 years) among senior citizens is represented there with a comparatively high proportion of 37.7 %. The uninterested occasional cyclist does not frequently engage in any of the leisure activities surveyed. Their general state of health is average.
The ambivalent skeptic (11.4 %) seems to be in a bit of a quandary. On the one hand, they view cycling positively overall, but on the other hand, they view cycling very negatively in some areas, such as the potential risk of accidents, reckless car drivers, or the stress of cycling. On the other hand, they have a positive attitude toward cycling because their conscience kicks in when they take the car instead of the bike for short trips, for example. Their attitude toward driving shows that the car is not necessarily an alternative to the bike for this type of person. However, this group has the second-highest proportion of people who drive a car at least several times a week (62.6 %). The ambivalent skeptic is the third most frequent user of a normal bicycle at least several times a week (27.6 %). As cyclists, people in this group experience aspects of regulation, orientation, and obstruction by all types of cyclists most negatively. Encounters with motorists are perceived as the second most negative. This type often complains about the condition of bike paths, uneven surfaces or obstructed views on bike paths, and the frequent long waits at traffic lights. The ambivalent skeptic is least noticeable in terms of certain leisure activities being undertaken either very frequently or infrequently. There are slightly more men (54 %) than women in this group of cyclists. The youngest age group (65-69 years) is most strongly represented here (39.1 %).
The dissatisfied, critical infrequent cyclist (11.9 %) tends to view cycling negatively overall and is the least aware of the positive effects of cycling on health or the environment. This group most frequently reports that cycling is boring and that destinations are not easily accessible by bike. In this group, it is comparatively rare to ride a normal bicycle at least several times a week (15.4 %) and to use a bicycle for everyday activities (e.g. shopping). People in this group experience aspects of regulation, orientation, and obstruction as the most negative of all types of cyclists. This type often complains about the condition of bike paths, uneven surfaces or obstructed views on bike paths, and the frequent long waits at traffic lights. This type is the least satisfied of all types with local traffic regulations and the design of the traffic space. This group of cyclists clearly includes the most people who live in rural areas (72 %). The dissatisfied, critical infrequent cyclist is the second least confident in their cycling skills. People in this group are not interested in going to the theater, opera, or concerts, drive the least by car/motorcycle, take the fewest short trips, attend the fewest private celebrations or parties, and spend the least time with their families. Playing music and gardening are among their leisure activities. This group includes more men (57.1 %) than women, as well as the highest number of people with a low level of education (61.1 %).
The disapproving inactive type (12 %) expresses the most negative opinion of cycling. Not only is cycling rather boring, it is also physically demanding, far too dangerous for older people, and involves confrontation with reckless car drivers and stressful experiences. This type is also the least convinced that cycling is faster than driving in the city. People in this group are significantly less likely to cycle at least several times a week (11.9 %), cover significantly fewer kilometers by bike in seven days, and are significantly less likely to cycle regularly. This type is the second least likely of all types to use a bicycle for everyday activities (e.g. shopping) and has the second most negative experience of all bicycle types in terms of regulations, orientation, and obstacles. This type often complains about the condition of bicycle paths, uneven surfaces, or obstructed visibility on bicycle paths. The reluctant inactive are the least confident in their cycling skills. However, this group also has the fewest people who drive a car at least several times a week (45.7 %). The goal of cycling more often in the future or participating in bike tours, as well as the intention to drive less a car, is least pronounced in this group. In terms of leisure activities, this type has low or the lowest percentages for sporting activities, physical exertion (e.g. gardening, dancing), and cultural activities such as “going to the theater or opera, attending classical concerts”, or “visiting museums/exhibitions”. There are slightly more women (52.2 %) than men in this group, and the 75+ age group is clearly the most strongly represented (53.8 %). The second highest proportion here is people with a low level of education (59.2 %). The general state of health is most negative for this type.
Grouping of the seven types of cyclists
The seven types of cyclists can be grouped into three “super types”. To do this, the personal characteristics “types of cyclists”, “habitual cycling”, and “frequency of cycling” recorded in the representative survey are mapped in a two-dimensional space using multiple correspondence analysis (see image). The closer the categories (represented by dots) of the three personal characteristics are to each other (short distances), the more closely they are related. For example, it is possible to see how far the seven different cyclist types are from the category “(almost) daily” of the variable “frequency of cycling” and how they relate to this category.
The chosen two-dimensional representation is formed by the two dimensions “exposure to cycling” and “attitude toward cycling.” In this representation, three groups of cyclist types can be identified: habitual cyclists, occasional cyclists, and infrequent cyclists:
(1) Habitual cyclists: These include “the avid cycling enthusiast”, “the car-critical, risk-aware cycling enthusiast”, and “the car-loving, optimistic, active type”. Habitual cyclists make up 44 % of older cyclists.
(2) Occasional cyclists: These include “the uninterested occasional cyclist”, “the dissatisfied, critical infrequent cyclist” and “the ambivalent skeptic”. Occasional cyclists also make up 44 % of older cyclists.
(3) Rare cyclists: This group includes only “the disapproving inactive” who make up 12 % of older cyclists.
As the image shows, the “ambivalent skeptic” lies between habitual cyclists and the two occasional cyclists, the “uninterested occasional cyclist” and the “dissatisfied, critical infrequent cyclist”. If the “ambivalent skeptic” were to abandon their skepticism, they could become a habitual cyclist. Since the attitudes of habitual cyclists are very positive towards cycling, people in this upper group need the least motivation to cycle. In order to increase cycling in this upper group, measures that lead to a personal “devaluation” of car use (especially among car-loving, optimistic, active people) and improvements in the traffic conditions for cyclists (regulations, infrastructure) could contribute to this. Occasional and rare cyclists also benefit from improvements in traffic conditions. However, they can also be motivated to start cycling or to cycle more often. Communication measures are likely to be particularly useful for these two groups. However, such measures should also take into account the safety aspects of cycling.
Summary
Based on attitudes toward cycling, seven different types of cyclists were identified, which differ significantly in their attitudes (attitude segmentation). This typology of cyclists has a high degree of differentiation thanks to numerous additional descriptive characteristics of the cyclist types, which can be extremely useful for the implementation of communication measures in particular. This also applies to the three superordinate cyclist groups to which the seven cyclist types can be assigned: habitual cyclists (44 %), occasional cyclists (44 %), and rare cyclists (12 %). There are no significant differences between the seven cyclist types in terms of their involvement in accidents as cyclists. Therefore, the previous descriptions do not refer to accident involvement. The approach used to identify cyclist types in the group of older cyclists can also be recommended for use in other age groups.
