Estimating the safety benefits of separated cycling infrastructure: Does modelling the mechanism matter?
Keywords: Cycling
ACRS
Submission Date: 2016 Conference: ARSC
Abstract
EXTENDED ABSTRACT: Separated cycling infrastructure that removes interaction between cars and cyclists is assumed to reduce risk of collision. However, the potential for separated infrastructure to act against other mechanisms also assumed to contribute to cyclist safety has not been empirically explored. We constructed an agent-based model to investigate the potential effects of introducing separated cycling infrastructure to a transportation network. Results suggest that in transportation networks where behavioural adaptation among drivers is assumed to be active, low levels of separated infrastructure that reduces exposure of drivers to cyclists while providing incomplete origindestination coverage may provide little or no overall safety benefit.