Interaction between cyclists, motor vehicles and infrastructure : a simulator study on cyclist strategy and behaviour at intersections

• Severe and fatal accidents between cyclists and motor vehicles are common at intersections, and many involve right-turning vehicles, with drivers not observing an adjacent cyclist. Few structured investigations exist regarding the interaction between the two, and factors to be studied are how infrastructure and vehicle properties affect human decision-making and cycling behaviour. Therefore, a bicycle simulator study was performed, where vehicle type, lane markings and width were systematically varied in a scenario with a cyclist approaching a vehicle from behind at an intersection. 33 participants each cycled through 8 intersections. Data on cycling trajectories, stopping points and speed was coupled with survey data and semantically categorized verbal responses to questions regarding strategy for choice of stopping point. Results show that all three factors (vehicle type, lane markings and available vehicle-adjacent space) significantly affects cyclists’ behaviour (lateral and longitudinal stopping position), speed choice and verbally expressed conscious strategies.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Transportteknik och logistik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Transport Systems and Logistics (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)