Bicyclist Positioning Behavior at Signalized Intersections in Portland, Oregon

Research on bicyclist positioning behavior at signalized intersections is limited. While many cities provide infrastructure such as stencil markings and signage to detect bicyclists at traffic signals, there is much to learn about how bicyclists use this infrastructure. A better understanding of bicyclist behavior would inform the development of more cost-effective treatments serving bicyclists with wider ranges of comfort levels. As part of FHWA Experimentation 4(09)-63 (E) Detector Confirmation Lights – Portland, OR, PBOT has gathered initial data before device installation at select locations throughout the City. The authors' analysis focuses on observational data using video data collected. Over four hours at each of the six locations, 670 observations were made regarding bicyclist behavior, compliance, and positioning at six signalized intersections. Initial findings show high (98.2%) compliance of bicyclists with traffic signals, excluding right turns on red. A small segment (9.8%) uses push buttons intended for people walking, but most (37.2%) bicyclists join others queued at signals or place themselves over the stencil (43.0%).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANF20 Standing Committee on Bicycle Transportation.
• Authors:
  • Smith, Oliver
  • Koonce, Peter
  • Soto Padin, David
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 12p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycling; Compliance; Cyclists; Detection and identification technologies; Positioning; Road markings; Signalized intersections; Traffic signals; Traffic signs
• Identifier Terms: Portland Bureau of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Portland (Oregon)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01660934
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-05609
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 22 2018 9:18AM