Simulation Analysis of Intersection Treatments for Cycle Tracks

The increased use of cycle tracks has led to investigations of how to accommodate them at intersections. Although the protected intersection concept shows promise based on its Dutch legacy, engineers, planners and advocates lack sufficient information to confidently implement the concept in an American context. The main operational issue and safety concern with the protected intersection design is how to manage the conflict between bicyclists and right-turning motor vehicles. The following methods for controlling the interaction between right-turning vehicles and bicyclists are evaluated: (1) Right-turning drivers yield to bicyclists during the vehicle green phase; (2) Bicyclists are provided a leading interval phase; (3) Bicyclists are provided a separate protected phase for all movements; (4) Right-turning drivers are provided a separate protected signal phase, and bicyclists proceed; and (5) concurrently with through vehicles. Using the Vissim traffic analysis software, the protected intersection with the above control options was modeled to determine the change in vehicle, bicyclist, and pedestrian delay. Vehicle delay was reduced with the first signal option since slower moving bicycles were removed from the regular travel lanes and crossing distances for pedestrians were shortened. Providing a leading interval phase for bicyclists or right-turn phases for vehicles to reduce vehicle-bicycle conflicts increases motor vehicle delay, but bicyclist and pedestrian delay increases would be less. A scramble phase for bicyclists and pedestrians would increase delay for all modes, so this is most appropriate at locations with high bicycle volumes and where the motor vehicle delay tradeoff is acceptable.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANF20 Standing Committee on Bicycle Transportation.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Transportation Research Board

    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Authors:
    • Stanek, David
    • Alexander, Charles
  • Conference:
  • Date: 2016

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 9p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01587783
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 16-0606
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jan 27 2016 5:11PM