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Cyclist route choice model: Integrating energy expenditure preferences for enhanced network design
Wednesday May 28, 2025 10:30am - 10:50am EDT
Desmarais 1130
Understanding cyclists' route preferences is crucial for designing equitable and accessible urban cycling infrastructure. While previous research has examined the influence of network, contextual, and individual factors, energy expenditure remains an underexplored but critical determinant. Despite its recognized importance, energy costs are typically inferred rather than directly quantified in utilitarian cycling analyses. This study introduces the marginal rate of substitution between energy and time (MRS_{et}) to measure cyclists' willingness to exert physical effort to save travel time.
Using a Mixed Path-Size Logit (MPSL) model with latent segmentation, this research empirically demonstrates that energy preferences significantly shape route choices. High-MRS cyclists"”more sensitive to exertion"”experience greater disutility from distance and steep grades but prioritize minimizing travel time over explicitly conserving energy. Low-MRS cyclists"”more willing to exert effort"”strongly avoid disruptions such as intersections and high-crash areas, favoring a smoother ride. These findings highlight behavioral heterogeneity in energy sensitivity and its impact on route selection.
Designing infrastructure that accommodates diverse energy preferences"”through flatter, more direct routes, expanded e-bike access, and energy-efficient wayfinding"”can improve cycling inclusivity. Future research should refine energy expenditure quantification and develop integrated models that jointly consider route, speed, and mode choices, advancing sustainable urban mobility solutions.
Speakers
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Alexander Bigazzi

Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Alex Bigazzi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on non-motorized and lightly-motorized travel – in particular, the intersection of physics, physiology, and behaviour for active travellers... Read More →
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99. Sanabria Barboza Paper CTRF2025 pdf
Wednesday May 28, 2025 10:30am - 10:50am EDT
Desmarais 1130 55 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
  Healthy cities

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