Wailing Floating Head said:
Awesome, thanks for the input. I wrote the survey mostly as a top-of-my-head sort of deal. You have some great ideas and I'll modify it accordingly..... When, that is, I can get my hands on some respectable internet. I feel like I'm probably getting less than 56k at my apartment right now.
Ok - you're a student, this was "off the top of my head" attempt. I'm going to be a little harsher than the previous respondents, but with the objective of improving your attempt.
Most of the questions present bias - serious bias. I think you've picked good subjects/objectives to measure with the question topics, but the construction of the questions and answers, to a large degree nullifies the validity of the topics.
Who am I? A guy who did relatively well at constructing surveys in my school years, and a few times got to apply what I learned in real-life applications. Don't be afraid to pass the result past a few, or a lot of people like other cyclists - or professors who will have experience constructing surveys - to get more edits. Documents like surveys are made
stronger by editing, and
you do NOT have to use all the edits you are given (important point).
Btw, best of luck with your paper!
Bike Lanes Survey
Survey
2. What kind of cyclist do you consider yourself to be?
A good question, but the answers are overly non-specific, and will not give you the reliable answers you are seeking. There are too many ways to define the activity level inside each answer.
I don't ride bikes because I dislike riding them.
(You are trying to answer two questions with each of these answers.)
I don't ride bikes, but not for any specific reason.
Recreational cyclist – I ride around the neighborhood.
Commuter cyclist – I ride to get from A to B.
Exercise cyclist – I ride for the workout.
Racing cyclist – I ride against the clock.
Try this simple change:
I don't ride bikes.
Recreational - 3-4 rides per month or less
Commuter / Transportation
Exercise
Racing
3. Do you use bike lanes,
when they are available? If so, how frequently.
My bet would be that 75% of the people who will respond to the survey will have no bicycle lanes or routes available, or as reasonable alternatives.
If so, how frequently.
No, never.
Yes, sparingly.
Yes, frequently.
Yes, every day
(use "whenever possible" instead).
4. Where bike lanes are unavailable, do you ride in the road?
Good question.
No, I use alternate routes or forgo riding altogether.
No, I use the sidewalk.
Yes, but only on roads with wide shoulders or other safe roads.
Yes, on most roads – it's my right after all
(skip the "it's my right . ." bit, it may add color and character, but it seriously biases the question and answer, and will discredit the survey. If you want to know how they feel about cyclists' rights, ask that as a separate question).
Other (please specify)
5. If you do ride in the roads, do you feel safe when you do?
Once again, an excellent question, with an answer that represents bias, and tries to answer two questions. Specifically, the last answer forces a rationale on anyone who chooses "I feel safe on most roads". I would go back to the drawing board, and perhaps add a few questions. Keep your focus on what you want to know, and create one question for each point.
I don't ride in the road.
I feel unsafe because of motorists.
I feel unsafe because of road conditions.
I do, but only on roads with shoulders.
I do because I trust motorists to respect me, and the law to back me up.
How about just "I ride on most roads"?
Other (please specify)
6. Would you frequently forgo motorized transportation if bike lanes were more available?
I already commute by bike, most of my trip is in bike lanes.
I already commute by bike, but I ride in the road for much of my trip.
I would commute by bike if it was made more safe by bike lanes.
I wouldn't commute by bike, regardless of bike lanes.
Other (please specify)
7. Do you feel that your local government cares about cyclists?
I don't like this question. I DO like what you are trying to find out here - "Is my local government doing anything for cyclists?". However, my local government is made up of people. Some of these people care about cyclists, but have no power. Some of these people DON'T care about cyclists, but have power and may be active for cyclists because cyclists present a visible constituency (they vote and get publicity). Etc. I think it would be better to ask "Do you see your local government as responsive to cyclists?" Or "Does your local government take bicycling into consideration in their transportation planning?"
Not a bit.
A bit.
They listen, at least.
By and large, yes.
Absolutely.
8. What would the effects be on society if more bike lanes were created?
Very negatively.
Usage: Very NEGATIVE. If you want the adverb, use "How" in the question, not "What". Any English teachers out there can correct me on this if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure about this.
Relatively negatively.
Ditto.
There would be little or no effect.
Positively.
Extremely positively.
Please elaborate!
Uhhh huh. Do you think the exclamation point might just indicate bias? I think you should stick with "comments".
9. As a motorist, how do you feel about sharing the road with cyclists?
I am not a motorist.
I hate it, they need to get out of the road.
It's bothersome, they really should stay out of the road.
They have the right, though they can get in the way sometimes.
I don't mind.
I like seeing cyclists exercise their right.
10. If you frequently ride in the road, how do you feel about motorists?
This is, at least, missing a neutral option. It goes from an answer that says "all motorists are bad" to an option that says "all motorists are good", without a stop in between, where the CYCLIST shows concern but is watching out for the motorist. The answers are also written with a "me vs them" bias - they seem to assume that the cyclist is putting all the responsibility for safety on the motorist's shoulders.
How about this:
I don't ride in the road with any real frequency.
Motorists tend to be downright dangerous.
Motorists are somewhat considerate of cyclists.
Motorists are usually considerate of cyclists.
Motorists are very considerate of cyclists.
Motorists have never bothered me.
OR, perhaps
If you frequently ride in the road, how considerate of cyclists do you think motorists are?
I don't ride in the road with any real frequency - or I don't know.
Not at all
A little
Somewhat
50/50 - some are, some aren't
Usually - more are considerate than not
Very considerate
Motorists rarely show inconsiderate bahavior - almost all are considerate
I don't ride in the road with any real frequency.
They tend to be downright dangerous.
They can be awfully disrespectful.
They do a good job watching out for me.
Motorists have never bothered me.
I love motorists.
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