Perceived Accessibility Scale adapted to cycling: What insights can it provide in the context of Stockholm?

Abstract

The study adapts the previously developed Perceived Accessibility Scale (PAC) to examine perceived cycling accessibility in Stockholm. Assessments of perceived cycling accessibility are particularly lacking. Using data from recent surveys in Stockholm and employing factor analysis, the study confirms the reliability of the scale in capturing perceived cycling accessibility. Hypothesis testing reveals that perceived cycling accessibility is positively associated with cycling frequency. Socio-demographic factors appear to play a less significant role, except for an indication that perceived accessibility differs by gender among frequent cyclists. Mobility characteristics, along with the social environment factor of peer influence, seem to show stronger associations with perceived accessibility compared to socio-demographics. While the adapted PAC seems to effectively measure perceptions, its ability to provide more details on what these perceptions consist of is limited. Further research should focus on examining unobserved factors and causal relations to gain deeper insights.