Traffic Conflict Models on Shared-Use Paths Used by Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Electric Bicycle Riders

Abstract

In order to analyze the traffic conflicts under the circumstance of mixed traffic flow, this paper focuses on shared-use paths used by pedestrians, cyclists, and electric bicycle riders. First, a basic cycle traffic conflict model is put forward to describe cycle passing and meeting events. Second, five typical trails were selected to perform the investigation in Nanjing city in China. Third, we set up an electric bicycles-cycle passing conflict model, a cycle-cycle passing conflict model, a cycle-pedestrian passing conflict model, and a cycle-pedestrian meeting conflict model according to the data collected. Finally, a strength conflict model was built considering the effect of the widths of shared-use paths. The results of a sensitivity analysis showed that the value of all types of traffic conflicts decreased with the increment of the path’s width, while cycle-pedestrian passing and meeting strength conflict contributed much more to the total impact than electric bicycle-cycle passing strength conflict and cycle-cycle passing strength conflict in shared-use paths.