Field observations of young e-cyclists in Requirements* based on EN - - PDF document

Field observations of young e-cyclists in Israeli cities: a characterization of typical behaviours and risk factors

Victoria Gitelman Anna Korchatov Roby Carmel Wafa Elias

Transportation Research Institute Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

30th ICTCT Workshop in Olomouc, Czech Republic

• n 26th – 27th October 2017

Background: electric bicycles

• Electric power-assisted bicycles (e-bicycles, e-bikes or pedelec): a

convenient form of mobility in urban areas

Battery Engine on the rear axis

Requirements* based on EN 15194 The engine's maximum power does not exceed 250 watts The electric motor is powered by bicycle pedals The engine power decreases with speed increasing and stops the operation when bicycle speed exceeds 25 kph *Israeli Traffic regulations, 2016 Age limits: 16 and above (since May 2016; earlier: 14+) Vehicle and driving license requirements: none Where should they travel: on roads and on bicycle lanes Use of helmet: in urban areas, mandatory for cyclists under the age of 18

Trends in using e-bicycles

Annual EB sales by region and a forecast scenario until year 2020. Hurst and

Gartner (2013)

Estimates

• f global e-

bike sales:

Fishman and Cherry (2016)

2013 2014 2015 33,000 73,000 100,000

Import of e-bikes in Israel

Electric bicycles: substantial increase in injury, in Israel

Trend in the no. of hospitalized persons due to electric bicycle and scooter accidents *

* National Trauma Registry

Half – children, particularly of ages 14-16

Total (reported by the Police) Bicycle/ scooter riders Bicycle/ scooter passengers Pedestrians Other vehicle

• ccupants

1,174 925 59 95 95

CBS 2015: injuries in accidents with electric bicycles or scooters

N

Literature: behaviours of e-bicycle riders

In Europe/USA*:

• Faster than regular bicycles but speed difference is low
• Safer behaviours relative to regular cyclists: helmet use, respecting signs,

using cycling paths

• However: higher involvement in conflicts with other road users and higher

injury compared to regular cyclists In China#: high % of violations (red light running, carrying a passenger) Typical e-cyclist abroad: aged 30+, higher income and education level In Israel: a growing use of e-bicycles among youngsters, below 18

*Scaramuzza et al., 2015; Langford et al., 2015; MacArthur et al., 2014; Dozza et al., 2015

Observational survey of young e-cyclists: framework

Aim: to explore young e-cyclists’ behaviours at various urban settings - typical behaviours and interactions with other road users, during school- related and leisure trips Sample population: 15 towns , 31 areas near high- schools + 18 in city centers 150 sites + 75 sites = 225 Tools: dynamic video-recording of e- cyclists, in pre-defined hours Coding: * e-cyclist behaviours, * riding conditions, * interactions with other road users, * traffic law violations, * conflicts observed

Observational survey of young e-cyclists: sample

Types of sites (x 2 areas)*:

• unsignalized junction
• signalized junction
• road section without bicycle path
• road section with bicycle path
• roundabout

N: > 2000 short video-films * near high- schools and in city centers

Results: profile of young e-cyclists by type of urban setting

For both characteristics, sig. difference with p<0.001 N=69 43 63 46 572 66 185 116 506 303

Results: profile of young e-cyclists by type of urban setting (2)

• Sig. difference with p<0.001 for not wearing helmets, p<0.05 for carrying a passenger

Examples of e-cyclist behaviours: at unsignalized junctions Examples of e-cyclist behaviours: at signalized junctions Examples of e-cyclist behaviours: on street sections (no bicycle path)

E-cyclist behaviours at un-signalized junctions (near schools)

Travel on section before junction (N=332) Crossing a junction (N=394) On sidewalk 52% On roadway 48% Travel on section after junction (N=415) On roadway 53% On pedestrian crosswalk 29% On sidewalk 16% On sidewalk 31% On roadway 65%

• Passed

near pedestrians – 53%

• Went down

to the road while riding – 10%

• Moved

slower than vehicles* – 47%

• Changed

position on the roadway – 20%

• Went up to

the sidewalk – 10%

*when other vehicles are present

• Did not slow

down before the junction – 51%

• Violated the order
• f turns* - 13%
• Changed the place

roadway<>sidewal k – 4%-5%

• Did not slow

down before the crosswalk - 16%

• Crossed by

riding – 99%

• Changed the

place to roadway – 34%

E-cyclist behaviours at un-signalized junctions (2)

• Sig. difference with *p<0.1

Impact of road type on selecting place of riding Speed of the rider related to other vehicles, on various road types

E-cyclist behaviours at un-signalized junctions (3)

Place of riding in 3 steps Preferable choice 1 Preferable choice 2 Near school (N=197) 3 times sidewalk sidewalk sidewalk 11.2% 2 times sidewalk, 1 time road 19.8% 1 time sidewalk, 2 times road road 18.3% 3 times road road 50.7% Consistent preference of sidewalk vs roadway?

But no factor was significant in the explanatory models for the choices

1 2 3

* decrease with the no of crosswalks ** increase with the no of crosswalks

E-cyclist behaviours at signalized junctions (near schools and in city centers)

Crossing a junction (N=431; 225) Travel on section after junction (N=415; 181) On roadway 18%; 33% On crosswalks (1…6) 82%; 67% On sidewalk 35%; 64% On roadway 65%; 36%

• Crosses on red –

31%, 32%

• Did not slow down

before the junction - 44%, 38%

• Changed the place

to sidewalk – 5%,11%

• Crossed on red – 14%, 17%
• Did not slow down before

crossing* – 41%, 37%

• Crossed by riding – 99%
• Changed the place to roadway**

– 12%, 17%

E-cyclist behaviours on street sections

Riding on sidewalk or bicycle path (vs roadway)*

• Sig. difference

with *p<0.001

E-cyclist behaviours on street sections (2)

• Behaviours when riding on a sidewalk (no bicycle path)
• Behaviours when riding on a road (no bicycle path)

Young e-cyclists’ behaviours: Summary

Traffic law violations:

• riders below 16
• not wearing a helmet
• using pedestrian facilities for riding: sidewalks, crosswalks

Dangerous behaviours:

• not slowing down before a crosswalk or a junction
• crossing on red
• changing place of riding between sidewalk/roadway and inside

sidewalk/roadway

• moving faster than pedestrians and endangering them on sidewalks
• disturbing vehicle traffic and endangering themselves while riding on the

road

Ways for safer integration of e-bicycles in Israeli cities

Wider application of bicycle infrastructure, with better separation between the sidewalks, roadways and bicycle paths → Guidelines (2009) Road safety education and training

• f young e-bicyclists

Stronger enforcement of traffic regulations regarding e-bicycles, focus

• n fitting to EN 15194

Bicycle path Bicycle crossing Bicycle path

the same arrangements as for regular bicycles