Survey Results

In 2006, we asked community members to share their opinions about biking and walking in Santa Clarita. We received a high number of responses, with over 300 people completing the survey.  This feedback is being used to guide the development of the Non-Motorized Plan. A summary of responses is provided below.

Why do you bike and walk?

The majority of respondents bike and walk for pleasure or for exercise (Biking: 69% for pleasure, 75% for exercise; Walking 74% for pleasure, 84% for exercise).  Nineteen percent of respondents did not bicycle, 15% used their bicycle to get to work or for errands and shopping.  Only five percent of respondents walked to work, but a significant percentage (28%) walked to run errands or go shopping.  These results suggest that recreational biking and walking is high in Santa Clarita, and that many residents are already walking to run errands.

What prevents you from biking and walking more often?

When asked what prevents them from biking more often, 55%  cited “too many cars/cars drive too fast” and 51% cited “no bike paths, lanes, or routes.”  This suggests that building new bicycle facilities and improving bicycle connections between residential areas and the existing network of bicycle paths and lanes may increase the number of trips that are taken by bicycle, and may increase the number of bicyclists in Santa Clarita.

When asked what prevents them from walking more often, respondents chose a variety of reasons.  The top three reasons are “not enough time,” “too many cars/cars drive too fast,” and “places too far away.”  These results suggest that residents can be encouraged to walk more by reducing distances between residential and shopping, employment and entertainment areas.  In the short-term, this can be accomplished by creating paseo-style connections within and between neighborhoods and in the long term by encouraging mixed-use development. 

Residents cited traffic speeds and volumes as a common deterrent for bicycling and walking.  Facilities that reduce the effect of traffic on bicyclists and pedestrians can alleviate some of this concern. These may include providing buffers between roadways and paths, grade-separated crossings, and on-street facilities that provide bicyclists with their own space, such as bicycle lanes.  These concerns can also be addressed by programs that reduce traffic speeds in residential neighborhoods; intersection controls, signage and striping that enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety and visibility; and citywide educational programs.

Click to See Graph:
“Why and where do you bike?”

Click to See Graph:
“What prevents you from biking more often?”

Click to See Graph:
“What prevents you from walking more often?”