Resources for Cycling-Interested Tourists in Copenhagen May 4, 2011 Submitted by: Alana Aubin [email protected] Francisca Chichester [email protected] Shahil Kantesaria [email protected] [email protected] Submitted to: Project Advisor: Prof. Fred Looft [email protected] Project Liaison: Michael Hammel Dansk Cyklist Forbund An Interactive Qualifying Project submitted to the faculty of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science Abstract The goal of this project was to develop material that aided in the creation of an accessible and dynamic compendium of cycling resources to make cycling more attractive and available to short-term tourists to Copenhagen. As part of the Danish Cyclists Federation’s effort to develop a comprehensive information gateway to encourage Denmark’s tourists to cycle, we collected and assessed information regarding bike rentals, safety, culture, routes, and guided tours, conducted interviews with cycling and tourism professionals, and researched Copenhagen tourist demographics. In addition to fully documenting our results in this report, our research helped us create a model information gateway with example content and recommendations for further improvement and development. ii Acknowledgements We would like to thank everyone who assisted with our project directly or indirectly. Without these people, our IQP would not have been the valuable and inspiring experience it turned out to be. Special thanks to the Dansk Cyklist Forbund, our liaison Michael Hammel, our advisor Fred Looft, our PQP advisor Scott Jiusto, site coordinators Tom Thomsen and Peder Pedersen, our Danish language and culture instructor Mogens Larsen, all of our interviewees and survey participants, and our peers in the 2011 Copenhagen project site. iii Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... iii Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................. vi List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2: Background ................................................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Dansk Cyklist Forbund ................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Tourism in Copenhagen ...................................................................................................................... 4 2.2.1 Characteristics of Short-term Tourists ........................................................................................ 4 2.2.2 Measuring Tourism ..................................................................................................................... 5 2.2.3 Cruise Ship Tourism in Copenhagen........................................................................................... 5 2.2.4 Cycling Tourism in Denmark ...................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Factors Influencing Tourists’ Cycling Habits ..................................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Bicycle Rentals in Copenhagen ................................................................................................... 8 2.3.2 Perceived and Actual Cycling Safety ........................................................................................ 13 2.3.4 Cycling Routes in Copenhagen ................................................................................................. 16 2.4 Marketing Cycling to Tourists .......................................................................................................... 21 2.5 Information Gateways ...................................................................................................................... 22 2.6 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 3: Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 25 3.1 Assess Currently Available Resources to Cycling-Interested Tourists ............................................ 25 3.1.1 Web Presence of Cycling .......................................................................................................... 25 3.1.2 Online and Offline Information Available in the United States ................................................ 26 3.1.3 Resources Available in Copenhagen ......................................................................................... 26 3.1.4 Resources Available to Cruise Passengers in Port .................................................................... 26 3.2 Compare and Contrast Techniques to Make Cycling More Accessible to Short-Term Tourists ..... 27 3.2.1 Tourist Surveys ......................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.2 Interviews of Tourism Professionals ......................................................................................... 27 3.3 Identify Impediments to Safe Cycling Among Tourists and Provide Key Points to Help Them Feel Comfortable Cycling .............................................................................................................................. 28 3.3.1 Cycling Safety and Culture Research ........................................................................................ 28 3.3.2 On-site Observation and Cycling Experiences .......................................................................... 28 3.3.3 New Cyclist Survey ................................................................................................................... 28 3.3.4 Interviews with Cycling Professionals ...................................................................................... 29 3.3.5 Top Five Tips for Cycling in Copenhagen ................................................................................ 29 3.4 Propose Interesting and Informative Bicycle Routes ....................................................................... 29 3.4.1 Determine Route Features ......................................................................................................... 29 3.4.2 Investigate Pre-existing Cycle Routes ....................................................................................... 29 3.4.3 Design Cycle Routes Around Copenhagen ............................................................................... 30 3.5 Develop a Plan to Collaborate with Rental Outlets to Keep Rental Information Up-to-Date .......... 30 3.6 Create a Model of an Information Gateway with Recommendations for Inclusion and Maintainability........................................................................................................................................ 30 3.7 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 4: Results ....................................................................................................................................... 32 4.1 Currently Available Resources to Cycling-Interested Tourists ........................................................ 32 4.1.1 Web Presence of Cycling .......................................................................................................... 32 4.1.2 Online Information Available in the United States ................................................................... 32 4.1.3 AAA and Other Guidebooks ..................................................................................................... 33 iv 4.1.4 Cycling Information Available in Copenhagen ......................................................................... 35 4.1.5 Langelinie Cruise Terminal ....................................................................................................... 37 4.2 Marketing to Short-Term Tourists .................................................................................................... 38 4.2.1 Tourist Demographics ............................................................................................................... 39 4.2.2 Length of Stay in Copenhagen .................................................................................................. 40 4.2.3 How Tourists Get Information .................................................................................................. 40 4.2.4 Smartphone Usage by Tourists.................................................................................................. 40 4.2.5 Motivation to