Pedestrians’ and bicyclists’ route choice during winter conditions

Summary

This Norwegian study investigates how winter surface conditions and maintenance service levels influence route choices among pedestrians and cyclists. Combining surveys of 1,677 pedestrians and 736 experienced winter cyclists with a field experiment in Trondheim, the researchers found that 55.5% of pedestrians and 48.6% of cyclists sometimes or very often choose different routes in winter. Pedestrians were particularly concerned about slippery surfaces, while cyclists were more likely to avoid loose snow that makes cycling physically demanding. In the field experiment, snow and slush reduced pedestrian use of a route compared with bare pavement, but no statistically significant corresponding effect was identified for cyclists. The findings help winter maintenance authorities distinguish between pedestrian and cyclist needs when prioritising snow clearance, surface evenness and skid prevention.

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