Ton Hummel Love Cycling Go Dutch Conference Newcastle, 5 November 2013 Workshop 1: Sustainable safety

1. Human Behaviour and Design of Cycle
Facilities
Ton Hummel:
Principal Safety Engineer at Skanska, Bristol UK.
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2. Design of Cycle Facilities
• Are cyclists (and drivers) going to behave the way we
intended?
• Are we sure our designs are resulting in correct
behaviour?
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3. Behaviour of Cyclist
− Does general behaviour in UK differ from the
Netherlands?
− Does behaviour differ for different types of cyclists?
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4. Differences in Behaviour?
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5. Important differences
− Speed
− Acceptance of interruptions and detours
− Acceptance of risk
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6. What does this mean for our designs?
Example:
Fast commuting cyclist on shared path (footway/ cycle
path).
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7. What does this mean for our designs?
Fast commuting cyclist on shared path (footway/ cycle
path).
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8. Main requirements of all cycle facilities
1. Safe
2. Short
3. Direct
4. Continuous
5. Comfortable
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9. Main requirements of all cycle facilities
Not meeting all 5 requirements is likely to result in
unexpected behaviour.
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10. Unexpected Behaviour?
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11. Unexpected Behaviour?
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12. Unexpected Behaviour?
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13. Unexpected Behaviour?
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14. Safe Cycle facilities
− Reducing lateral conflicts (cars overtaking cyclists)
− Reducing conflicts at junctions
− Reducing conflicts at start and end of cycle facilities
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15. Reducing lateral conflicts
− Physical segregation (cycle paths)
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16. Reducing lateral conflicts
− Physical segregation (cycle paths)
− Non-physical segregation (cycle lanes)
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17. Cycle lanes
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18. Reducing lateral conflicts
− Physical segregation (cycle paths)
− Non-physical segregation (cycle lanes)
− Other non-physical segregation (for instance use of
bus lanes)
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19. Reducing lateral conflicts
− Physical segregation (cycle paths)
− Non-physical segregation (cycle lanes)
− Other non-physical segregation (for instance use of
bus lanes)
− Mixed traffic
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20. Mixed traffic. Profiles to avoid.
Safe are:
A. Narrow profile; car can not overtake cyclist in own
lane (or on own side of centre line)
B. Wide profile; car can safely overtake cyclist in own
lane (or on own side of centre line)
Avoid:
Critical profiles (anything in between A and B)!
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21. Mixed traffic. Non-critical profile.
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22. Myths in design of cycle facilities
1. Doing something is better than doing nothing.
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23. Myths in design of cycle facilities
1. Doing something is better than doing nothing.
Photo 1
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24. Myths in design of cycle facilities
1. Doing something is better than doing nothing.
Photo 2 (same cyclist; a bit further down his route).
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25. Myths in design of cycle facilities
2. Requiring cyclists to give way is safer than the other
way around.
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26. Myths in design of cycle facilities
3. Maintenance of cycle paths is not as “safety critical”
as on routes for motorised traffic
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27. Myths in design of cycle facilities
4. Hazardous crossings are safer to negotiate as
pedestrian than as cyclist (cyclists dismount)
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28. Myths in design of cycle facilities
5. Shared use footways are a good and cheap option
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29. Myths in design of cycle facilities
6. Shared bus lanes are a good and cheap option
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30. Myths in design of cycle facilities
7. Not providing access barriers at start and end of
cycle paths will lead to misuse
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31. Myths in design of cycle facilities
8. Allowing car parking within cycle lane is acceptable
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32. Myths in design of cycle facilities
9. Providing cycle facilities is expensive
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33. Myths in design of cycle facilities
10. A major shift in modal split is possible without
introducing additional delays for cars
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34. Thank you!
Divera Twisk
Ton Hummel
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35. Reducing conflicts at Junctions
Important causation factors of accidents with cyclists at
junctions:
− Drivers not seeing (or not noticing) cyclist
− Not enough space for cyclists
− Cyclist doing something unexpected
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36. Reducing conflicts at Junctions
Potential solutions for those conflict types:
− Advanced stop lines (with proper lead-in to provide
enough space for cyclists).
− Continuation of cycle lanes through junction area
(preferably in coloured surface).
− Separate stage (or pre-start) for cyclists in
signalisation
− Continuation of cycle facilities after junction area.
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37. Cyclists on Roundabouts
Photo Fietsberaad
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38. Cyclists on Roundabouts
Photo Fietsberaad
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39. Cyclists on Roundabouts
Photo Fietsberaad
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