To put my stated target audience to the test I devised together a quick questionnaire focusing on the average students usage of buses, this in comparison to the popularity of bikes and if it would be able to compete.
I kept it as concise as I could as I have seen many questionnaire attempts not get any responses due to its over-complications and exposure to too wide of an audience on social media - the method I took to get responses was to actually go and have the conversations with people around the College of Art (allowed them to elaborate on their answers), aiming to speak with as many different course backgrounds as I could, including some chats with 'uni of' students too.
Overall, I got 50 responses - which isn't massively representative of the student population in Leeds, but it does start giving me an initial idea of the trends taking place. I include beneath the number of answers to the questions and then summarised the most popular reasons for their answer..
1. How often do you use the bus?
Never - 12 = I walk (7), taxi it (2), or ride my bike (3)
Once or twice a week - 18 = mostly when I'm late
Most days - 16 = I'm usually quite lazy in the morning
Every day - 4 = Distance takes too long / I'm lazy
- So already 3 people admit to using their bikes without prompt
- Most people do make use of buses if they really have to
- But still a large proportion of people use it frequently/a lot throughout the week mainly because there is no other option for them or they are lazy
2. Do you / would you pay more than £1/£2 for the bus, if it wasn't for the student fair offers?
No - 19 = it would start getting too expensive
Yes - 24 = I'd have to
Yes - 7 = money isn't a problem for me
- Most people who said 'Never' on the last question own up and say its because of money
- Some people who say they only use it once or twice a week when they really need to, said they would stop if the prices were more expensive
- Whilst the largest proportion say they would have to pay the extra difference to ensure they are on time.
- The remaining few then openly admitted to me how money isn't an object for them
3. Do you ride a bike for quick/cheap transport?
No - 26 = My bike isn't in Leeds/ I don't have a bike
No - 18 = Too lazy
Yes - 6 = I already ride my bike
- The largest proportion of people turned around and seemed genuinely passionate about the fact that if they could get their bikes to Leeds easily, then they would want to ride them and save money
- The usual amount admitted they are too lazy so it would be a no
- Whilst 3 extra people now say they also have their bike available to them
4. Would you ride a bike to cut your costs, if it wasn't for complications of actually getting it to Leeds with you? (asked to the 44 who said no in the last question)
Definitely - 21 = love to cycle, quicker option, good exercise
Sometimes - 18 = the above reasons but lazy
No - 5 = too lazy, money isn't a problem for me
- Looking to pick out these people who didn't have access to bikes, I found out a solid proportion of those people would either definitely ride a bike if they could, or admit they wouldn't every day but it would be a perfect extra option
- Only 5 of the 44 people who don't have access to bikes give a straight no due to being too lazy and money not being an object for them
5. If a bike scheme which competed with prices for other public transport methods was introduced to Leeds, would you be inclined to try it out instead?
Definitely - 24 = quicker/cheaper option, good exercise
Maybe - 18 = if I'm running late as too lazy/can't afford
Probably Not - 8 = too lazy, money isn't a problem for me
- I finished on proposing the above to all of the 50 people, I found out 84% of my sample would consider trying out the bike scheme
- 48% of them definitely being interested.
- Leaving only a small 16% group of them giving a fixed answer of it not being an appropriate scheme for them and they are not interested due to classic student laziness!
I am certain that this bike scheme if presented in an appropriate, attractive and modern way - reflecting the current styles and trends within Leeds - and designed with the students but also locals & tourists in mind, would be a success and worth piloting to increase pedestrian safety, reduce the cities pollution and congestion, and promote more of a healthy active lifestyle for the population.
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