@article{ref1,
title="The relationship between cycle track width and the lateral position of cyclists, and implications for the required cycle track width",
journal="Journal of safety research",
year="2023",
author="Schepers, Paul and Theuwissen, Eline and Nuñez Velasco, Pablo and Nabavi Niaki, Matin and van Boggelen, Otto and Daamen, Winnie and Hagenzieker, Marjan",
volume="87",
number="",
pages="38-53",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Sufficient cycle track width is important to prevent single-bicycle crashes and collisions between cyclists. The assumptions on which the minimum width is based in guidelines is founded on only a few studies. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between cycle track width and lateral position of cyclists. <br><br>METHOD: We conducted an experiment to evaluate the lateral position of cyclists along cycle tracks with different widths (Study 1). Participants cycled on an instrumented bicycle with a LIDAR to measure their lateral position. Five conditions were defined: cycle track width of 100 cm, 150 cm and 200 cm without interaction, and cycle track width of 150 cm and 200 cm with an oncoming cyclist simulated by a parked bicycle. The cross-sectional Study 2 is based on the collected lateral position measurements at cycle tracks with varying width reported in Dutch studies since 2010. <br><br>RESULTS: The experimental Study 1 with 24 participants shows that an increase in cycle track width causes cyclists to ride further away from the verge and keep more distance from an oncoming cyclist. The cross-sectional Study 2 was based on lateral position measured at 33 real-life Dutch cycle tracks. Study 2 yielded similar results, indicating that doubling pavement width increases lateral position by some 50%. Study 2 shows that, compared with a solo cyclist without interaction, a right-hand cyclist of a duo and a cyclist meeting an oncoming cyclist ride around 30% closer to the verge. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The wider the cycle track, the more distance cyclists maintain from the verge. Cyclists ride closer to the verge due to oncoming cyclists. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Given a cyclists' lateral position while meeting, common variations between cyclists' steering behavior, and vehicle width and circumstances, a cycle track width of 250 cm is needed for safe meeting maneuvers.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4375",
doi="10.1016/j.jsr.2023.07.011",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2023.07.011"
}