MPC
Project Details

Title:	Investigating Bicyclist Safety Perceptions and Behaviors at Roundabouts
Principal Investigators:	Patrick Singleton
University:	Utah State University
Status:	Completed
Year:	2019
Grant #:	69A3551747108 (FAST Act)
Project #:	MPC-603
RH Display ID:	14050
Keywords:	behavior, consumer preferences, cyclists, highway design, perception, roundabouts, surveys, traffic safety

Abstract

Installing a modern roundabout is a proven safety countermeasure that has been shown to improve intersection safety and operational efficiency in many situations. However, research from Europe (where roundabouts are more common and have been used for longer) suggests that roundabouts have mixed results for bicyclist safety and may even increase vehicle-bicycle crashes. Unfortunately, corresponding evidence for bicyclist safety at roundabouts in US contexts is not readily available, in part because roundabouts and bicycle crashes at roundabouts are less frequent. To overcome this lack of information on objective safety performance, there is a need to study subjective perceptions of safety (and safety-motivated behaviors) of bicyclists at roundabouts.

The primary objective of this research is to characterize and evaluate how bicyclists perceive the safety of roundabouts overall and of specific design and operational characteristics of roundabouts. A questionnaire will be developed to survey bicyclists' safety perceptions, preferences, and behavior associated with different roundabout designs and situations. Survey responses will be quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed for behavioral implications in addition to design and operational recommendations. As transportation agencies consider installing roundabouts to improve roadway safety, this research will inform intersection design practices to improve bicycling safety outcomes.

Project Deliverables

• [Final Report] Investigating Bicyclist Safety Perceptions and Behaviors at Roundabouts — MPC-24-516
  • View Research Brief

Project Word Files

• Show project Word files
  • Full Description (Word, 39K)
  • UTC Project Information (Word, 21K)

  Note to project PIs: please use the Track Changes feature when editing the above Word file(s). Updated document(s) should be emailed to ndsu.ugpti@ndsu.edu.