Researchers studying urban mobility patterns observed that neighborhoods with high concentrations of bike-sharing stations tend to have residents who ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Researchers studying urban mobility patterns observed that neighborhoods with high concentrations of bike-sharing stations tend to have residents who make more frequent, shorter trips compared to neighborhoods without bike-sharing access. Initial data showed that areas with bike-sharing programs averaged \(\mathrm{4.2}\) trips per person daily, while areas relying solely on traditional public transit averaged \(\mathrm{2.8}\) trips per person daily. Transportation analysts suggest this pattern indicates that bike-sharing availability creates a cultural shift toward viewing the city as more navigable and accessible, leading residents to venture out more frequently than they would in transit-only areas.
Which observation would most directly challenge the analysts' suggestion?
Residents in bike-sharing neighborhoods typically chose bicycles over walking for trips under one mile.
Bike-sharing users generally completed trips faster than traditional transit users during peak commuting hours.
Areas selected for bike-sharing programs already had higher baseline trip frequencies before the bikes were introduced.
Some bike-sharing neighborhoods had stations with electric bikes while others had only standard bicycles.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Researchers studying urban mobility patterns observed that neighborhoods with high concentrations of bike-sharing stations tend to have residents who make more frequent, shorter trips compared to neighborhoods without bike-sharing access.' |
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| 'Initial data showed that areas with bike-sharing programs averaged 4.2 trips per person daily, while areas relying solely on traditional public transit averaged 2.8 trips per person daily.' |
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| 'Transportation analysts suggest this pattern indicates that bike-sharing availability creates a cultural shift toward viewing the city as more navigable and accessible, leading residents to venture out more frequently than they would in transit-only areas.' |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: Research observation shows bike-sharing areas have more frequent trips, supported by data showing 4.2 vs 2.8 trips per day, followed by analysts explanation that bike-sharing creates cultural shift making cities feel more accessible leading to more trips.
Main Point: Transportation analysts believe bike-sharing programs cause residents to take more trips by creating a cultural shift that makes cities feel more navigable and accessible.
Argument Flow: The passage presents research showing higher trip frequencies in bike-sharing neighborhoods, provides specific data supporting this finding, then offers the analysts causal explanation that bike-sharing creates a cultural mindset change leading to more frequent outings.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which observation would most directly challenge the analysts suggestion about causation
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that would undermine or contradict their causal theory
Any limiting keywords? Most directly challenge means we need the strongest contradiction to their explanation
Question Characterization: This asks us to find evidence that would weaken the analysts causal claim that bike-sharing creates a cultural shift leading to more trips
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The analysts claim that bike-sharing availability causes a cultural shift that makes people take more trips
- To challenge this causal relationship, we would need evidence showing that the increased trips are not actually caused by bike-sharing cultural impact, there is an alternative explanation for why bike-sharing areas have more trips, or the areas were already different before bike-sharing was introduced
- So the right answer should provide evidence that the difference in trip frequency existed before bike-sharing programs, suggesting the bikes did not cause the change
Residents in bike-sharing neighborhoods typically chose bicycles over walking for trips under one mile.
✗ Incorrect
- This tells us about mode choice for short trips but does not challenge the causal relationship between bike-sharing and trip frequency
- Still supports the idea that bikes make areas feel more accessible
Bike-sharing users generally completed trips faster than traditional transit users during peak commuting hours.
✗ Incorrect
- This is about speed of trips during peak hours and does not address whether bike-sharing caused the cultural shift or higher trip frequency
- Could actually support the analysts view that bikes make cities feel more navigable
Areas selected for bike-sharing programs already had higher baseline trip frequencies before the bikes were introduced.
✓ Correct
- Shows that areas selected for bike-sharing already had higher trip frequencies before bikes arrived
- Directly challenges the causal claim by providing alternative explanation that areas were chosen because they already had high trip rates
- If the difference existed before bike-sharing, then bikes did not cause the cultural shift
Some bike-sharing neighborhoods had stations with electric bikes while others had only standard bicycles.
✗ Incorrect
- This is about different types of bicycles within bike-sharing programs and does not challenge whether bike-sharing causes more trips or cultural shifts
- Irrelevant to the causal relationship being questioned