Cycle lanes: their effect on driver passing distances in urban areas

The current literature in the field of cycle lanes has often shown contradictory evidence as to the benefits and risks of cycle lanes and previous work has specifically shown that on higher speed roads, drivers may pass closer to a cyclist when a cycle lane is present. Utilising an instrumented bicycle, the authors collected information as to the passing distance demonstrated by drivers when overtaking a cyclist within the urban (30 mph/40 mph) environment. The presented analysis shows that when a driver encounters a cyclist mid-block (i.e. not at a junction), there are more significant variables than the presence of a cycle lane that determines the overtaking distance. The three most significant variables identified are: absolute road width, the presence of nearside parking and the presence of an opposing vehicle at the time of an overtaking manoeuvre. The analysis also demonstrated that there is a larger unknown factor when it comes to overtaking distances. The authors postulate that this unknown variable is the driver himself and will vary by area, site and even time of day (i.e. different driving cultures, congestion, or frustration during peak times, etc.) making it difficult to quantify.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3846/16484142.2014.953205
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/16484142
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Copyright © 2014 Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) Press 2014. Abstract reprinted with permission of Taylor & Francis.
• Authors:
  • Stewart, Kathryn
  • McHale, Adrian
• Publication Date: 2014-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 307-316
• Serial:
  • Transport
  • Volume: 29
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) Press
  • ISSN: 1648-4142
  • EISSN: 1648-3480
  • Serial URL: https://journals.vgtu.lt/index.php/Transport
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle lanes; Distance; Drivers; Highway safety; Passing; Urban areas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01542758
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2014 11:38AM