Barbara Gruehl Kipke

Bicycle Usage in Two Cities of Africa

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PROCEDURE OF RESEARCH - Questionnaire Structure

The questionnaire is divided in two parts (Appendix II). The first section is answered by the head of household for all household members. Background information on the household is asked, the importance of central facilities are determined, and vehicle ownership or -access is found out.

The second section is answered individually. Four household members (man, woman, girl, boy) are initially asked about their occupations and the resulting trips. For each person the complete out-of-house trip pattern of the previous day is then determined, that includes both activities as well as trips. Yesterday's trip pattern is asked because all activities can be recalled exactly, and the selection of "yesterday" is a random choice, that is not influenced by the survey itself. In addition, the typical usages of different modes are determined. The survey includes not only the bicycle, but rather all transport modes, in order to be able to establish in which cases the bicycle could be used as a substitute. A comparison to the information provided about the previous day enables a check for plausibility. Finally, reasons for non-usage of vehicles are asked.
Additional questions that have been added since the pre-test mainly pertain to more detailed information on decision-making and perceptions.