Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Geography (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Geosciences

Advisor/Mentor

Cothren, Jackson

Committee Member

Holland, Edward

Second Committee Member

Theiss, Henry

Abstract

In a global comparison, the U.S. ranks second lowest in bicycle use for urban trips, surpassed only by Brazil. This underutilization signals missed opportunities to improve public health, environmental sustainability, and community connections. In Northwest Arkansas (NWA), a region actively investing in active transportation infrastructure, efforts were underway to reverse this trend. However, a key question remained: Were these investments effectively boosting bicycle ridership? To address this question, communities required reliable methods to measure cycling activity. Traditionally, this involved stationary counters placed at strategic locations to monitor ridership patterns. While accurate, these counters had limited spatial coverage. In contrast, emerging sources such as Strava Metro provided rich, user-contributed ridership data—classified as volunteered geographic information (VGI)—with extensive spatial and temporal coverage. However, these data were influenced by demographic and behavioral biases. This thesis examined whether Strava data could supplement sparse EcoCounter data to provide a more comprehensive view of ridership in Benton and Washington Counties. By comparing five years (2019–2023) of Strava and EcoCounter data within a shared spatial framework, this study assessed agreement in temporal patterns and actual values, developed simple bias-correction interpretations, and determined where and when Strava could serve as a reliable proxy. The ultimate aim was to support planning decisions using scalable, cost-effective data sources that reflect the diverse populations using—and not yet using—these active transportation systems.

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