Single-File Dynamics of Cyclists: Two Experiments and Two Microscopic Models

Abstract

AbstractStudies of bicycle flow are important for design and operation of bicycle facilities. We conjecture that there is no qualitative difference between vehicular and bicycle traffic flow dynamics in the single-file case, so the latter can be described by reparameterized car-following models. To test this hypothesis, we reproduce German and Chinese ring-road bicycle experiments with the Intelligent-Driver Model (IDM) and with the Necessary-Deceleration-Model (NDM), which is specifically designed for bike traffic. Comparing their fit quality (calibration) and predictive power (validation), we find similar quality metrics for both models, so the above hypothesis of a qualitative equivalence cannot be rejected. The NDM represents significant calibration errors for high flow densities, which correspond to flow states with stop-and-go waves. By means of two validation methods, we discover that inter-driver variation is much higher than the intra-driver variation for bicycle traffic. It coincides with the results obtained from vehicular traffic experiments.KeywordsBicycle trafficRing-road experimentCar-following modelStop-and-go wavesCalibrationValidation