Cyclist Activity and Injury Risk Analysis at Signalized Intersections: A Bayesian Modeling Approach (CAN)

14th May 2013

This Canadian study, published on 14th May 2013 (online) in the Journal Accident Analysis and prevention investigates cyclist injury occurrence and bicycle activity simultaneously using a Bayesian modeling approach. The presence of bus stops at intersections increases cyclist injury occurrence as well as the Presence of raised medians at intersections decreases cyclist injury occurrence. The authors propose a ranking approach for corridors in terms of injury risk criteria.

A Conceptual Framework for Road Safety and Mobility Applied to Cycling Safety (Netherlands)

15th Apr 2013

This paper published in the Journal Accident Analysis & Prevention online April 3rd, proposes a new conceptual framework for road safety and mobility comprising factors for risk and exposure resulting from travel behaviour. The model helps to identify potential effects of measures and policies on both exposure and risk.  this paper also uses the framework to link research on cycling (safety) to land use and infrastructure.

Seeing Red: Why Cyclists Ride Through Traffic Lights (Australia)

25th Mar 2013

This study, published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention investigated the behavioural, attitudinal and traffic factors contributing to red light infringement (running a red light) between February to May 2010. 2061 people who cycled completed the survey of which 37.3% reported that they had ridden through a red light.The study found that gender (males) age (older >29 yrs) and previous bicycle-vehicle crash can characterise groups of people cycling that may run red lights and discusses cyclist inclusive infrastructure and enforcement.

Evaluation of Shared Lane Markings for Cyclists (Australia)

08th Feb 2013

This report describes a before and after study of the application of shared lane markings for cyclists (“sharrows”) to three relatively slow speed streets in the inner suburbs of Melbourne. Sharrows appear to have a significant effect on cyclist lane positioning on roads where it is feasible for cyclists to ‘claim the lane’. The report, prepared for VicRoads by CDM Research, was published in February 2013.

Evaluation of Narrow Bridge Treatments for Cyclist Safety (Australia)

08th Jan 2013

In November 2012 consultants SKM finalised a report for the QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads which examined the effectiveness of treatments on narrow bridges to improve the safety of bicycle riders. The project tested the use of ‘Watch for Bicycles’ signs, ‘No Overtaking on Bridge’ signs, and Bicycle Awareness Zone (BAZ) pavement symbols. The findings recommend changes to the Australian guidelines relating to narrow bridge treatments for cyclists. 

Evaluation of counter-flow cycling in one-way streets in Oslo city centre (EU)

19th Dec 2012

This research report by the Norwegian Centre for Transport Research was published in November 2012. The study evaluated the effects of counter flow cycling in one way streets on the behaviour, comfort, perceptions of safety and ease of access of pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers. The study also considered the safety consequences of this measure.

Pedestrian and bicycle plans and the incidence of crash-related injuries (USA)

03rd Dec 2012

This study, reported in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention, published in January 2013, examined the association between the presence of pedestrian and bicycle plans to pedestrian and bicyclist nonfatal and fatal injuries from 1997 to 2009 among 553 North Carolina (NC) municipalities. The research found pedestrian plans were associated with decreased nonfatal/fatal injury rates but bicycle plans were not.

Where do cyclists ride? A route choice model developed with revealed preference GPS data (USA)

26th Nov 2012

This research was published in the journal Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice in December 2012.  To better understand bicyclists’ preferences for facility types, GPS units were used to observe the behaviour of 164 cyclists in Portland, Oregon, USA for several days each. The research found that cyclists are sensitive to distance, turn frequency, slope, intersection control, and traffic volumes. Cyclists place relatively high value on off-street bike paths, bicycle boulevards, and bridge facilities. Route preferences differ between commute and non-commute trips.

Understanding the fear of bicycle riding in Australia

16th Nov 2012

Rates of bicycle commuting currently hover around 1 -2% in most Australian capital cities, although 17.8% of Australians report riding at least once per week. The most commonly stated reason for choosing not to ride a bicycle is fear of motorised vehicles. This paper, published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety in September 2012, sets out to examine the literature and offer a commentary regarding the role fear plays as a barrier to bicycle riding.

Review of public health and productivity benefits from different urban transport and related land use options (Australia)

12th Oct 2012

This paper was presented at The 5th Healthy Cities Conference held in Geelong, Australia in June 2012. It provides heath and economic rationale for developing urban forms geared towards active travel. This review is the first stage of a project supported by the CSIRO which examines developing potential human health impacts of future urban development scenarios.

Determinants of bicycle commuting: The role of bicycle parking, cyclist showers, and free car parking at work (USA)

15th Aug 2012

This article, published in the journal Transportation Research in July 2012,  examines the role of bicycle parking, cyclist showers, free car parking and transit benefits as determinants of cycling to work. The analysis is based on commute data of workers in the Washington, DC area. Results indicate that bicycle parking and cyclist showers are related to higher levels of bicycle commuting. And that free car parking at work is associated with less bike commuting.

Travel adaptive capacity assessment for particular geographic, demographic and activity cohorts (New Zeland)

08th Aug 2012

In July 2012 the New Zealand Transport Agency released a report exploring the use of travel adaptive capacity to help people change modes of travel in order to reduce fuel use without reducing participation in activities. Transport infrastructure and network planning must now consider oil shocks and future demand growth for more energy efficient transport modes. Travel adaptive capacity is proposed as a measure of the resilience of travel demand.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities-Traveler Response to Transportation System Changes (USA)

08th Aug 2012

This report, published in August 2012 by the US Transport Research Board's 'Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) examines the travel behavior and public health implications of pedestrian/bicycle area-wide systems; NMT-link facilities such as sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and on-transit accommodation of bicycles; and node-specific facilities such as street-crossing treatments, bicycle parking, and showers. The report also includes discussion of the implications of pedestrian and bicycle “friendly” neighborhoods, policies, programs, and promotion. 

Improved Multi-lane Roundabout Designs for Urban Areas (New Zealand)

20th Jul 2012

This research, undertaken 2008-2010, investigated the comparative safety of multi-lane roundabouts versus signalised intersections, pedestrian facilities, vertical deflection devices and visibility to the right. Guidance for practical application of the relevant measures to enhance roundabout safety has been developed and is included in this document, including speciifc measures for cyclists. The report was published in May 2012 by the NZ Transport Agency.

Minimum Design Parameters for Cycle Connectivity (New Zealand)

20th Jul 2012

This research used video surveillance of 1245 cyclists in New Zealand at pinch points to determine the relationship between the remaining lane or shoulder width and the likelihood of cyclists traversing the edge line into the motorised vehicle stream. Results established that at 0.4m most cyclists could retain a course inside the edge line and navigate the pinch point without needing to enter the motorised vehicle stream. The results were published in June 2012 by the NZ Transport Agency.

Traffic Forecasts Ignoring Induced Demand (EU)

18th Jul 2012

This research report was published in the European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research in 2012. Researchers from the Institute of Transport Economics and a Danish university suggest that transport planners routinely ignore induced demand when considering new road and road expansion projects. Failing to fully account for induced demand causes public entities to overestimate the benefits of transportation projects and build more roads than is optimal from a financial and environmental perspective.

Park and Ride: An Adelaide Case Study (Australia)

05th Jun 2012

Park and Ride (P&R) schemes have many potential benefits, yet there is evidence that they can lead to an overall increase in private car use as a result of traffic redistribution, additional trip generation and abstraction of users from the public transport system. This paper, published in 2012, reports on research into the recently established Adelaide Entertainment Centre P&R facility situated on the fringe of Adelaide's CBD. The research was conducted a few months after the opening of the P&R facility to capture the travel behaviour changes facilitated by the scheme.

Bicycle Infrastructure Preferences -€“ A Case Study of Dublin (Ireland)

05th Jun 2012

This paper, published in 2012, examines infrastructure preferences for cyclists. A stated preference survey was used to gauge preferences for a range of infrastructure types and route characteristics. Facilities that were segregated from traffic were the preferred form of cycling infrastructure, regardless of cycling confidence. 

Smart Congestion Relief (Canada)

14th Mar 2012

This report, published by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in March 2012, critically evaluates the methods used to evaluate traffic congestion costs and the benefits of various congestion reduction strategies.The results indicate that highway expansion often provides less total benefit than alternative congestion reduction policies such as improving alternative modes, pricing reforms, and smart growth land use policies.

Improving Public Health Through Active Transportation (Canada)

13th Mar 2012

This dissertation, by Meghan Winters, University of British Columbia, aims to understand how to design cities to support cycling, to improve public health. It applied quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the link between cycling and the built environment. The paper, issued in April 2011, reports on five studies using data from the Cycling in Cities survey, which captured the opinions and travel behaviours of 2,149 current and potential cyclists across Metro Vancouver.

Practical Methods for Counting Bicycle and Pedestrian Use (USA)

09th Mar 2012

In January 2012 the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota released a report exploring ways to distinguish bicycles from pedestrians when using automtatic traffic counting applications. They found that a vision-based system overcomes many of the shortcomings of existing technologies such as loop counters, buried pressure pads and infra-red counters and developed state-of-the-art algorithms for performing object classification to solve the problem of distinguishing bicyclists from pedestrians.

Determination of personal exposure to traffic pollution while travelling by different modes (New Zealand)

17th Jan 2012

This research report, released in November 2011, examines the results of a project which aimed to assess the comparative risk associated with exposure to traffic pollution when travelling via different transport modes in New Zealand cities. Concentrations of the key traffic-related pollutants (particulate matter: (PM): PM10, PM2.5, PM1; ultrafine particles (UFPs) and carbon monoxide (CO)) were simultaneously monitored on pre-defined routes in Auckland and Christchurch during the morning and evening commute on people travelling by car, bus, on-road bike, train (Auckland only) and off-road bike (Christchurch only) from February to May 2009.

Cyclists'€™ Exposure to Traffic-Related Particulate Matter (USA)

25th Nov 2011

This research paper, published by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium in July 2011, found that moving cyclists just a few feet from automobiles can make a big improvement in their exposure to ultrafine particles given off by automobile engines.

Healthy Built Environments: A review of the literature (Australia)

18th Aug 2011

This literature reveiw was released in 2011 by the Healthy Built Environments Program, City Futures Research Centre, The University of New South Wales. The built environment has an important role to play in supporting human health as part of everyday living. This Literature Review examines the research evidence which demonstrates this link.

Service Levels of Cycleways (EU)

20th Jul 2011

This report for the Swedish Transport Administration was released in June 2011. This is the final report of the research project “Service levels of cycleways” wich aims to find the characteristics of an attractive cycleway, and specifying how to maintain cycleways in order to promote cycling.

Study uses infrared sensors to count bicyclists, pedestrians on Minneapolis trails (USA)

06th Jul 2011

In June 2011 the Univesity of Minesota's Centre for Transportation Studies reported on a research project which is using infrared counters to measure how bicycle and pedestrian trails are used in the City of Minneapolis. 

Goodwill Bridge Induced Walking and Cycling Traffic (Australia)

01st Jul 2011

This thesis, by Helen Abrahams, examines whether Brisbane's Goodwill Bridge induced walking and cycling traffic. It was published in 2002.

Effectiveness and Selection of Treatments for Cyclists at Signalised Intersections (Australia)

22nd Jun 2011

This Austroads Research Report, published in 2011,  contains the results of a study focused on the safety impacts of providing cycle facilities, in combination with a number of other features, such as width of approach kerbside lane, at traffic signals.

Evaluation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Engineering Countermeasures (USA)

04th May 2011

This report documents a US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) project to quantify the effectiveness of selected engineering countermeasures to improve safety and operations for pedestrians and bicyclists. The report reviews the use of Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons, HAWKs, Sharrows and Crosswalk Markings. It was published in April 2011.

Bicycling Trends and Policies in Large North American Cities: Lessons for New York (USA)

28th Apr 2011

This research paper reviews trends in cycling levels, safety, and policies in large North American cities over the past two decades. It was prepared for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC, and the University Transportation Research Consortium, New York, NY, in March 2011.

Bicycling Renaissance in North America? An Update and Re-Assessment (USA and Canada)

27th Apr 2011

This research paper, published in the journal Transportation Research Part A in 2011, reviews trends in cycling levels, safety, and policies in Canada and the USA over the past two decades. The paper analyses aggregate data for the two countries as well as city-specific case study data for nine large cities (Chicago, Minneapolis, Montréal, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington). 

Evaluating the Impact of Neighborhood Trail Development on Active Travel Behavior and Overall Physical Activity of Suburban Residents (USA)

25th Mar 2011

Published in the  Journal of the Transportation Research Board in January 2010, this report examined the results of a pilot project that assess the impact of constructing a new trail on the active travel behavior and overall physical activity among suburban residents in West Valley City, Utah. The results show that in this case, trail users were not locals and had little impact on encouraging behaviour change.    

Evaluation of Innovative Bicycle Facilities (USA)

09th Mar 2011

This report, published by Portland State University in 2011, explores the impact of two bike lane configurations: a cycle track (a seven-foot bike lane separated from motor vehicle traffic by a row of parked cars and a painted three-foot pedestrian buffer) and a couplet of buffered bike lanes (six-foot bike lanes with a two-foot painted buffer on either side separating them from motor vehicle traffic).

Parking Lane Width and Bicycle Operating Space (USA)

17th Feb 2011

This study tests the hypothesis that marking narrower parking lanes can create additional operating space for bicyclists by inducing motorists to park closer to the curb. The results, published in 2011, imply that in cities that display this level of response to parking lane width, additional operating space for bicycling can be gained by marking narrower parking lanes.

Effects of On-Street Bicycle Facility Configuration on Bicyclist and Motorist Behavior (USA)

17th Feb 2011

This research report, published in 2011, examines the safety impacts of design elements, including the type and width of the bicycle facility, the presence of adjacent motor vehicle traffic, parking turnover rate, land use, and the type of motoristbicyclist interaction. Notable results include the observation that bicycle lanes create a safer and more predictable riding environment relative to wide outside lanes, and that the provision of a buffer between parked cars and bicycle lanes is the only reliable method for ensuring that bicyclists do not put themselves at risk of being hit by opening car doors.

Latent Bicycle Commuting Demand and Effects of Gender on Commuter Cycling and Accident Rates (Canada)

17th Feb 2011

The finding of this research report, published in 2011, suggest that if women's cycling needs were addressed, the modal share of bicycle commuting could be increased. Investigation of cycling barriers indicated that women are more concerned than men about safety issues associated with cycling, with being able to carry daily items while cycling, and with the need to fix their hair on arrival. In analysis of desired improvements, women were found to place a higher value on bicycle maps and literature but share similar facility preferences with men. 

Multimodal Travel Choices of Bicyclists (EU)

17th Feb 2011

Cycling demand has been growing in recent years in Germany. Today, during an average week, about 30% of the German population, including all age classes and rural as well as urban populations, use the bicycle as a means of transportation. Cyclists use their bicycles on average 3 days per week for about 30% of their trips. The bicycle, however, is a mode used for specific segments of everyday travel, particularly short distances, unlike the car, which is almost universal. Hence, cyclists exhibit multimodal travel behavior (i.e., they combine the bicycle with other modes and switch to public transport or the car when the bicycle is not suitable). 

How Far Out of the Way Will We Travel? (Canada)

17th Feb 2011

Current travel demand models are calibrated for motorized transportation and do not perform as well for nonmotorized modes. Little evidence exists on how much, and for what reasons, the routes people travel deviate from the shortest-path or least-cost routes generated by transportation models. This paper, published in 2011, investigates differences in total distance, road type used, and built environment features for shortest-path routes versus actual routes for utilitarian bicycle trips (n = 50) and car trips (n = 67) in Metro Vancouver, Canada. 

Cycling Infrastructure for Australian Cities

21st Jan 2011

Infrastructure Australia Background Paper, March 2009

Field test on visability at cycle crossings at night

12th Jan 2011

Sara Nygardhs et al, 2010, VTI Report 691A

National Bicycling and Walking Study 15-Year Status Report

20th Dec 2010

This report is the third status update to the National Bicycling and Walking Study, originally published in 1994 as an assessment of bicycling and walking as transportation modes in the United States. Following the 5-year status report (1999) and 10-year status report (2004), the 15-year update measures the progress made toward the original goals of lowering the number of fatalities while increasing the percentage of trips made by bicycling and walking. Injury and fatality statistics are presented to measure this progress, as well as results from surveys related to travel habits. The 15-year report, unlike its two predecessors, examines a range of efforts to increase bicycling and walking in the United States. Programs at the Federal, State, and local levels are included, as well as case studies on best practices. Finally, the report makes recommendations for research, policy, and other measures that can be taken to meet the goals of the original study.

The costs of urban sprawl (1): Infrastructure and Transportation

29th Oct 2010

Austroads

28th Sep 2010

Austroads is the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities. A number of their research projects are highly relevant to cycling and are often available for free. Only a selection are listed here, but others can be easily found through Austroads Publications.

Cycling-inclusive Policy Development: A Handbook (International)

21st Sep 2010

This handbook, published in 2009, provides detailed information on how to develop cycling-friendly policies and facilities. It aims to enrich the ideas of planners, engineers and community leaders relating to traffic and transport systems. It has been written by 12 authors who are experts in different fields of cycling-inclusive development.

Litman, T., Blair, R., Demopoulos, B., Eddy, N., Fritzel, A., Laidlaw, D., Maddox, H., Forster, K., 2002, Pedestrian and bicycle planning

21st Sep 2010

European Conference of Ministers, 2004, Implementing Sustainable Urban Travel Policies

21st Sep 2010

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre, website, Policy and Planning

21st Sep 2010

Pucher, J., Buehler, R., 2006, Why Canadians cycle more than Americans

21st Sep 2010

Pucher, J., Buehler, R., 2006

21st Sep 2010

Zhang, W. and Gao, X. (2008)

21st Sep 2010

Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Lessons from the Netherlands and Germany

21st Sep 2010

This research paper by Pucher and Dijkstra was published in American Journal of Public Health in 2003. It assesses the public health consequences of unsafe and unattractive walking and cycling amenity. It does this through an examination of conditions in US cities and compares them to the Netherlands and Germany. 

Cherry, C. and Cervero, R. (2007)

21st Sep 2010

Zegras, P.C. (2007)

21st Sep 2010

Promoting bike-and-ride: The Dutch experience

21st Sep 2010

This academic paper published in 2007 discusses the experiences with, and impacts of the number of policy initiatives undertaken in recent years in the Netherlands designed to promote the use of bike-and-ride (that is the combined use of bicycling and public transport in a single trip).

Land Transport New Zealand, 2005

21st Sep 2010

Macbeth, A.G., Boulter, R., Ryan, P. S., 2005

21st Sep 2010

Land Transport Safety Authority, 2004

21st Sep 2010

Campbell, D., Jurisich, I., Dunn, R., 2006

21st Sep 2010

Walton, D., Dravitzki, V.K., Cleland, B.S., Thomas, J. A., Jackett, R., 2005

21st Sep 2010

Department of Planning, 2004, Planning guidelines for walking and cycling, Department of Planning, NSW Government, Sydney

21st Sep 2010

Forecasting demand for bicycle facilities (Australia)

21st Sep 2010

This guide, published by Austroads in 2001, examines methods by which demand for cycling under different conditions can be estimated, and provides a framework for analysing data to develop demand forecasts for bicycle use. The guide is based on an international review of literature with an Australian focus on the purposes, advantages, limitations and methods of demand forecasting. 

Oil Vulnerability in the Australian City

21st Sep 2010

This 2005 acadmic paper documents the precarious position, particularly of outer suburban communities to future rises in the price of petrol. It provides a strong case for improvements to land use and transport planning that increase mode choice for the less dominant transport forms of walking, cycling and public transport.

Bicycle riding and new subdivision design (Australia)

21st Sep 2010

This 2006 document from Queensland Transport highlights the importance of considering factors affecting cyclists' amenity in the development of subdivisions. An important introductory resource for local government and developers.

Evaluating Transportation Land Use Impacts (Canada)

21st Sep 2010

This document produced by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute (Canada) and most recently updated in September 2012 considers the impacts, benefits and costs of different land use development patterns.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Case Study Compendium (USA)

21st Sep 2010

This PBIC Case Study Compendium contains a collection of  case studies developed by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP). The case studies, or success stories, cover pedestrian and bicycle projects and programs from across the US and abroad, including engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, planning, health promotion, and comprehensive safety initiatives. The report was updated in July 2010.

Bicycle Parking, Storage and Change Facilities (Canada)

20th Sep 2010

This online resource by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Canada, was last updated in January 2010. The website provides a guide to the multitude of factors requiring consideration when developing end of trip facilities.

Cycling promotion in Western Australia

20th Sep 2010

This presentation by Russell Grieg, of the WA Premier's Physical Activity Taskforce, gauges the view from cyclsts and non-cyclists regarding the factors that encourage and discourage cycling.  This presentation was given at th Planning for Healthy Communities Conference in Brisbane in October 2005.

Rating the Transport Sustainability of Transit Oriented Developments (Australia)

17th Sep 2010

This 2005 paper by M. Burke and L Brown suggests a way forward for the development of a diagnostic tool that can assist Transit Oriented Devlopment developers and decision-makers to quickly assess the potential of developments and the likely travel behaviour produced by their design.

Planning for healthy communities (Australia)

17th Sep 2010

This 2004 publication by the Victorian Governnment outlines effective health promotion strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It assesses the economic costs of both these diseases. Cycling features throughout the document as an effective response to lowering the costs of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes for the community.

Bikes and travel behaviour change (Australia)

17th Sep 2010

This 2003 presentation by Geoff Rose, Bikes and travel behaviour change – a transport engineers perspective, explores the balance between travel behaviour change program such as TravelSmart, with other methods of encouragement, such as bicycle infrastructure improvements.

Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation (Canada)

17th Sep 2010

Produced by the Canadian Victoria Transport Policy Institute and authored by Todd Littman, this 2011 paper outlines the numerous benefits associated with active transport modes such as cycling. It discusses the methods available to quantify the social, economic, environmental and transport benefits of cycling.

Traffic flow models allowing for pedestrians and cyclists (Australia)

16th Sep 2010

This Austroads 2001 paper begins by reviewing the literature on safety and mobility issues for pedestrians and cyclists. An investigation of traffic models is then undertaken, with particular attention given to pedestrians and cyclists.

Shocking the suburbs: Urban location, housing debt and oil vulnerability in the Australian city

16th Sep 2010

Shocking the Suburbs, a 2006 paper by J Dodson and G Sipe, outlines the vulnerability of Australian communities to rising fuel prices, automobile dependence and housing debt. It has important implications for land use planning, with particular emphasis on the creation of communities less dependent on motor vehicles and an increased role for the bicycle.

Pedestrian-Cyclist Conflict Minimisation on Shared Paths and Footpaths (Australia)

15th Sep 2010

This 2006 report published by Austroads investigates actual and potential conflict between cyclists and pedestrians. It outlines best practice solutions to minimise the potential for conflict between these modes of travel. These solutions cover engineering, traffic management and urban design concepts, as well as education and awareness strategies.