Commuter Bicyclist Behavior and Facility Disruption

Cyclists confronted by disruptions to facilities (e.g., dedicated paths, designated lanes) experience disturbances that prompt them to select sub-optimal facilities to avoid disruptions. Cyclists who have ready access to such improved facilities often choose sub-optimal facilities. This project collected a variety of data to help gain a better understanding of commuter cyclist behavior using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to record cyclist movements and behaviors. Using GPS units for data collection provides significant data for analysis, however, a substantial and unexpected amount of effort went into determining the best operational use of the GPS units and verifying data collection protocols. Among important findings, results show that as perceived safety decreases, riders appear to be more cautious and move more slowly; however in situations of substantial perceived danger, riders go faster to spend as short a time in unsafe conditions. Cyclists choose these dangerous situations over alternatives because of lessened travel times. The research has been successful in establishing insightful relationships between commuter cyclist behavior and facilities. The methodological results are significant for future work.

• Record URL:
  http://www.lrrb.org/pdf/200715.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

  Department of Geography, 267 19th Avenue South
  Minneapolis, MN  United States  55455

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  Research Services Section, 395 John Ireland Boulevard, Mail Stop 330
  St Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Authors:
  • Harvey, Francis J
  • Krizek, Kevin J
• Publication Date: 2007-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 60p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Bicycle commuting; Bicycle facilities; Cyclists; Data collection; Global Positioning System; Highway safety; Route choice; Travel time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Travel disruptions
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01052332
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MN/RC-2007-15
• Contract Numbers: 81655 (wo) 179
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 5 2007 3:55PM