Factors Influencing Variability in the Usage of Secure Bicycle Parking at Railway Stations in Melbourne, Australia

Secure bicycle storage facilities at railway stations provide a safe and convenient option for commuters who cycle to the station to leave their bicycle during the day (bicycles are not encouraged on train during peak travel times). In large metropolitan cities encouraging commuters to link their journey to the train station with active transport has broad social benefits including increasing incidental exercise, reducing on-road vehicle congestion to the station and reducing the vehicle parking space required. However, to date there has been little research into factors that contribute to the use of secure bike storage at train stations. This study investigated the factors that may influence the level of use of secure bicycle parking at railway stations in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city with a population of 4.3 million and an extensive suburban rail network which includes over 200 stations. At 53 of those stations secure bicycle parking cages have been installed and they average 5.3 entries each weekday. Multivariate regression models were developed to determine the significance and impact of a range of factors on the use of these secure bicycle storage facilities. The analysis revealed that the most significant factors in explaining the variability in usage of the facilities were: population, person’s age, occupant to dwelling ratio, percentage of the population within the cycling age, car parking, and ticket zoning. Combined, these factors accounted for nearly 50 % of the variability in the levels of secure bicycle parking use. Findings from this study provide valuable new insights into secure bicycle storage facility use. Importantly, for Melbourne and other cities with partial cycling storage at train stations, evidence from this study can be used to inform decisions about investment and prioritisation in secure bicycle storage facilities across the entire railway network.