Barriers and facilitators to bicycle use for transport and leisure among adults

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the main barriers and facilitators to the use of bicycles for transportation and leisure in adults from Curitiba, Brazil. Forty-eight adults of both sexes and presenting distinct characteristics related to cycling (commute, leisure time users and activists) participated in focus groups interviews. The content analysis was used to group similar reports later described according to absolute and relative frequencies distribution. The most reported barriers were "lack of safety" (46 reports, 20%) and "lack of bike lanes" (29 reports, 12.6%), while the most frequently reported facilitators were "well being" (35 reports, 20.2%), presence of "adequate structures" (18 reports, 10.6%), "family support" (18 reports, 10.6%) and "presence of company in general" (17 reports, 10%). Social and environmental aspects such as public safety, group activities and improving infrastructure for bicycle use should be considered in developing programs to encourage its use.