Feasibility of Using GPS to Track Bicycle Lane Positioning
Researchers have shown that Global Positioning System (GPS) units in smartphones can be used to identify routes taken by cyclists, including whether cyclists deviate from shortest paths to use bike lanes and other facilities. Researchers previously have not reported whether GPS tracking can be used to monitor whether and how bicyclists actually use lanes on streets, where these lanes have been provided, or other types of facilities. The objective of this research was to determine whether smartphone GPS units or enhanced GPS units could be used to track and map the location of cyclists on streets. The research team modified an open-source smartphone application (CycleTracks) to integrate with a higher-quality external GPS unit. Cyclists then mounted the smartphone with route-tracking applications to bicycles and repeatedly rode four different routes. The routes for the field tests were chosen because each included a striped lane for bicycle traffic and because the routes bisected a variety of built urban environments, ranging from an open location on a bridge over the Mississippi River to a narrow urban street lined by tall, multi-story office buildings. The field tests demonstrated that neither the smartphone GPS units nor the higher-quality external GPS receiver generate data accurate enough to monitor bicyclists’ use of bike lanes or other facilities. This lack of accuracy means that researchers interested in obtaining data about the propensity of cyclists to ride in lanes, when available, must rely on other technologies to obtain data for analyses.
- Record URL:
- Summary URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
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Corporate Authors:
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 301 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN United States 55455University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Minneapolis, MN United States 55455Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute
200 Transportation and Safety Building
511 Washington Avenue, S.W.
Minneapolis, MN United States 55455Research and Innovative Technology Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Lindsey, Greg
- Hankey, Steve
- Wang, Xize
- Chen, Junzhou
- Gorjestani, Alec
- Publication Date: 2013-3
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Edition: Final Report
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 22p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bicycle lanes; Bikeways; Cyclists; Field tests; Global Positioning System; Mapping; Route choice; Smartphones
- Geographic Terms: Minnesota
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01477162
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: CTS 13-16, CTS Project #2012044
- Files: UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
- Created Date: Apr 1 2013 10:50AM