Understanding External Factors and Workload's Impact on Cyclist Safety

Details

• Creators:
  Losada-Rojas, Lisa Lorena ; Habib, Karim
• Corporate Creators:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) ; University of New Mexico ; Washington State Department of Transportation
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Analysis Cyclists Human Factors Engineering Infrastructure Planning
• Publication/ Report Number:
  23UNM04
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/ztq2-ec33
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report – June 2023 to May 2024
• Corporate Publisher:
  Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC)
• Abstract:
  Cycling remains a popular mode of transportation, yet cyclists face numerous safety challenges. Although human factors research typically focuses on motor vehicle drivers, studies addressing active transportation users, like cyclists, are scarce. This project aims to identify the best workload measures and devices for cycling to conduct naturalistic cycling data collection. Additionally, it aims to create a naturalistic cycling dataset considering the different workload measures identified. For that, we conducted a naturalistic cycling experiment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with 23 volunteers riding a predetermined route while wearing various biosensors to capture performance and physiological data. Subjective workload measures were also collected using established indices from the literature. Then, the team performed exploratory analyses combining data from the multiple sensors. In these analyses, we identified differences between male and non-male riders, as well as variations in workload levels between the first and second rides, highlighting the impact of familiarity with the infrastructure. The analysis focused on two intersections in high bicycle stress segments. Results indicated that subjects preferred routes with cycle paths and good street lighting. Additionally, heart rates were higher at intersections compared to the rest of the route. Subjects tended to look straight ahead or at lower traffic light infrastructure at intersections. We conclude that combining subjective, performance, and physiological measures offers a more comprehensive understanding of the workload experienced by cyclists. These insights can inform infrastructure planning and advance methodologies for assessing bicycle stress levels, considering human factors.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3552348336
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:83e166338b6ea7510f69010b96283fb8c2f9a82cb85982f468d9f3b256262b26cae3f7368cd60fc1654ffb66cbd83450fbf9c6ea588e70cb54df06f11dd5509e
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86201/dot_86201_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.22 MB ]