Decision-making tools to enhance the safety of cyclists and inline-skaters at rural midblock crossings

Transportation agencies have developed various tools to assist planners and engineers in evaluating whether or not a bike path should be grade-separated when crossing a rural highway midblock. In this paper, observed values at a crossing site are compared to theoretical models. The site studied is located on a busy path crossing a 90km/h road, with average daily summer traffic of 11,700 vehicles. Data was obtained by a video camera, traffic counters placed on the cycle path and the road, and by a laser speed detector, aimed at vehicles approaching and once they reach the crossing. A study of gap acceptability was also performed. It revealed gaps too small to allow safe crossing of the road, explaining a very high number of at-risk crossings. The number of bike path users at the crossing was inversely correlated with vehicle speeds, and vehicle drivers were often forced to stop for cyclists and inline-skaters that crossed without priority. Global results applied to theoretical decision models suggested that a grade-separated crossing should be built to increase safety.

• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Institut Francais des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l'Aménagement et des Réseaux (IFSTTAR)

  14-20 bd Newton, Cité Descartes, Champs su Marne
  77447 Marne la Vallée,   France  Cedex 2
• Authors:
  • Bruneau, Jean-François
  • Houle, Pierre-Louis
• Conference:
  • Transport Research Arena (TRA) 5th Conference: Transport Solutions from Research to Deployment
  • Location: Paris , France
  • Date: 2014-4-14 to 2014-4-17
• Publication Date: 2014-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 10p
• Monograph Title: Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 Proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Bicycle crossings; Cyclists; Hazards; Pedestrian movement; Safety; Skating; Surveillance
• ITRD Terms: 9001: Behaviour; 9101: Control (surveillance); 1667: Crossing the road; 1742: Cyclist; 1679: Cyclist crossing; 1732: Inline skater; 9101: Inspection; 9101: Observation; 9150: Risk; 1665: Safety; 9101: Supervision
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01540762
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Files: VTI, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 15 2014 10:37AM