Accessibility and university populations: local effects on non-motorized transportation in the Tuscaloosa-Northport area

This research examined the local bicycle and pedestrian networks through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and survey data, using the Tuscaloosa and Northport, Alabama, area as a case study. The local non-motorized travel networks were analyzed in GIS to measure the overall network connectivity and accessibility. Results of the measures of network connectivity and modeling of accessibility indicated that areas within one mile of the UA's campus have the highest levels of bicycle and pedestrian network connectivity and accessibility. As a travel distance increases from UA, connectivity and accessibility for the bicycle and pedestrian networks decreases. An on-line survey was administered to the University of Alabama (UA) students and employees, and the results of the survey were used to formulate an understanding of how UA's population views non-motorized travel and the respective networks. Survey results show that individuals within the sample population use non-motorized travel methods to commute to UA but their use is significantly lower than automobile use. In addition, the survey data was considered alongside evaluations of network connectivity and accessibility, thus providing a powerful tool for studying the local bicycle and pedestrian travel networks.