By Dr. Greg Rybarczyk • After tirelessly collecting data, running statistical analysis, and using GIS to produce maps, my former student and long-time research assistant, Laura Gallagher, and I finally received notification from the Journal of Transport Geography that our UM-Flint transportation study was accepted for publication. This research project was the first of its kind for our university, and the only one conducted that studied active travel in a commuter university environment. The intent of the study was to find out what barriers/facilitators exist for utilizing bicycling, walking, or mass transit as a serious mode choice on or around campus among UM-Flint faculty, staff, and students. It is hoped that this information could be used by university officials to encourage the use of these transportation modes more effectively. The results of the study proved to be interesting. For example, we discovered that students may increase their bicycling if they saw others doing it and if bicycles were readily available. It was also found that faculty would bicycle more if educational materials were present, such as bike route maps and safe bicycle riding literature. Staff stated that they would bike and walk more if there were more viable downtown destinations and if the costs of driving were higher. All in all, this project is a prime example of how undergraduate students can be integral in faculty led research. Since moving on from this project and the ERS department, Laura was accepted to Michigan Technological University where she has already completed the first year of her M.S. in a Civil Engineering/Peace Corp degree. Laura is now beginning her Peace Corp mission in Namibia, Africa where she will be assisting with water resource projects-good luck Laura! To view the official research article please follow the link below. sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0966692314001239
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:25:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015