Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of some mid-block bicycle crossing elements by analyzing the drivers’ behavior, when approaching the bicycle crossings in a real road experiments with 18 participants. The eye-tracking instrument has been used to monitor the driver’s visual behavior during the test in an instrumented vehicle with GPS (global positioning system) and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). In particular, the drivers’ gaze was investigated frame by frame while approaching the mid-block bicycle crossings. The results showed that the red colored pavement increased the visibility of the mid-block crossing zone to 65.3% with respect to zebra crossing 59.6%. The drivers’ visual field was also narrowed by the portal overhead bicycle crossing sign and, consequently, drivers reduced their velocity and looked more to the vertical signs by 28%. The drivers’ speed reduction helped drivers to see the mid-block crossing elements from a greater distance with a higher fixation duration.
Highlights
The growing problems of air pollution, carbon emission, and traffic congestion are encouraging elements for considering bicycles as a solution for sustainable urban mobility
The statistical analysis underlines a significant increase in drivers who looked at the portal overhead bicycle/pedestrian crossing sign (+28%, χ2 = 6.05, p = 0.002) and at red colored pavement (+4%, χ2 = 3.25, p = 0.002) of the “I1” crossing
The difference was significant for vertical sign (F(1, 32) = 3.92, p = 0.02, χ2 = 0.12) and the average fixation time was 316 ms (SD = 109) for portal overhead bicycle/pedestrian crossing sign of “I1” and 233 ms (SD = 102) for “Yield here to pedestrians and cyclists” vertical sign of “I2”
Summary
The growing problems of air pollution, carbon emission, and traffic congestion are encouraging elements for considering bicycles as a solution for sustainable urban mobility. Bicycles are widely accepted as a sustainable means of transport for medium and short distance journeys in urban areas and the growing number of cyclists entails the need for adequate bicycle-friendly infrastructures. Many cities have already invested in providing bicycle-friendly infrastructures, yet unsignalized mid-block crossings remain a highly dangerous area, which needs more attention when designing the bicycle path. Accidents involving a bicycle are hazardous for cyclists since they are unprotected against the car’s mass. The mass of a typical car is at least an order of magnitude greater than a bicycle, and has top speeds that are considerably faster than bicycle speed, making the impact forces noticeably high during the accidents [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
