From Theory to Practice: Developing and Validating Approaches to Measuring Subjective Experiences While Cycling

Cycling has important health, environmental and economic benefits, yet rates remain low in Australia. How people feel while riding, such as stress, comfort and safety, shape whether cycling is chosen for future trips. This thesis developed a clearer way to theoretically understand these experiences, explored how they influence travel choices, and tested whether physiological signals can measure emotions while riding. Findings indicated that separated cycling infrastructure supports more positive experiences and that electrodermal activity is a useful marker of short-term emotion. The findings can inform transport policy and infrastructure design to make cycling more accessible, inclusive and equitable.