Title
ACCOUNTING FOR BICYCLING EXPERIENCE AND FAMILIARITY IN EVALUATING BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY
Advisor
Eleni Christofa
Publication Date
11-2018
Abstract
The objective of this research is to provide an in-depth analysis of driver behavior when approaching new and unfamiliar bicycle infrastructure treatments. The focus is on cases where the driver is not directly interacting with bicyclists to determine unprovoked driving behavior near bicycle infrastructure treatments. The particular treatments investigated are sharrows, bike lanes, bike boxes, and bike merge lanes. This research utilizes a driving simulator, eye tracker, and questionnaires to determine whether any patterns, or causalities exist between infrastructure and driver behavior. The benefit of laboratory simulation allows for not only the measurement of driver behavior, but also survey of their background through questionnaires. This combined information provides insights into how driver experience as a bicyclist and exposure to bicycle infrastructure can affect driver behavior.