Exploring Diversity of Activities on Shared-Use Paths: Factors and Implications for Planning and Design

Abstract

The increased need for active transportation facilities coupled with the limited funding and space have influenced the prioritizing of shared-use paths (SUPs). Unlike other activity-specific facilities, the SUP can accommodate a wide range of users. With SUPs being relatively new facilities, less is known about the characteristics of the users and the key factors associated with the user type. This study explored the influential factors for SUP user diverse activities using multinomial regression on the survey data collected in Edmonton in 2018. The descriptive analysis revealed that walking was the activity with the highest frequency, followed by walking and cycling, and walking with pets, whereas cycling had the lowest priority. The multinomial model showed that as the age increases, residents are less likely to perform activities other than walking or cycling alone. Further, residents with higher education are more likely to either walk and cycle or walk, run, and cycle. Residents whose secondary mode of transportation is bicycle are less likely to walk and walk pets. Residents who own their house are likely to walk and walk pets. Furthermore, male residents, residents with children and those whose primary mode of transportation is not personal vehicles are more likely to walk, run, and cycle but less likely to walk and walk pets, compared with either walking or cycling alone. Planners can utilize the findings to understand the possible utilization of the planned SUPs and design them accordingly.