Research Project Description

Promoting Bicycle Commuter Safety

Project Number: 2910

Project Objective

The researchers will add value to the bicycle safety literature by crafting a bicycle safety handbook and final report based on the following:

•  A review of the literature

•  Analysis of bicycle accident statistics (both state and national)

•  A review of best practices in the US and Europe (including European safety training and the impact of separate bicycle paths on safety)

•  Analysis of effective behavioral change techniques in cyclists and motorists, based on the successes and failure of campaigns such as encouraging seat belt use in motorists, and

•  Analysis and conclusions of a minimum of 30 semi-structured qualitative interviews of individuals responsible for bicycle use in their respective cities and counties with the goal of writing a manual and report designed to have an impact on readers.

Principal Investigators:

Asbjorn Osland, Ph.D., Professor, Organization & Management, College of Business, San Jose State University

Team Members:

Thomas C. Ferrara, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, California State University, Chico

Project Abstract:

The researchers will review the best practices for educating cyclists of all ages on safety and interview at least 30 individuals responsible for bicycle use in their respective cities and counties with the goal of writing a manual and report designed to have an impact on readers. The manual is for cyclists but the report is targeted at public administrators responsible for bicycle safety. Though the rules for safety are rather straight forward (i.e., use of helmets, wearing conspicuous clothing, using lights, and following the rules of the road abbreviated as HCCLRR), cyclists often ignore them. There were 10,521 cyclists injured in accidents in California in 2007. Of the 124 cyclists killed in 2007 in California, 99 were not using helmets according to the California Highway Patrol´s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The counties with more than four fatalities in 2007 were: Los Angeles (26), Orange (16), San Diego (11), Riverside (8), Sacramento (7) and San Joaquin (5); the researchers will include the civil servants responsible for bicycle safety in these counties in the interviews. We will also attempt to include the following cities that had more than one fatality in 2007: Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Bakersfield, La Puente, Buena Park, Dana Point, Stockton, San Jose, Modesto, Oakland, Redding, Simi Valley, and Irvine (SWITRS, Table 8N, http://www.chp.ca.gov/switrs/index.html ). In many instances both the police departments and the transportation divisions have roles in bicycle safety. We will also include cities or counties where bicycle use is particularly high such as San Francisco and Davis and other counties or cities referenced in the interviews as having especially good bicycle programs (e.g., Marin). The sometimes less than responsible riding practices of cyclists are further exacerbated by poor path design where the cyclist is put in harms way by sharing the road with motor vehicles. Therefore paths will also be included in the literature review and the interviews. The fundamental objective is to make an addition to the safety literature by doing the following:

Task Description:

Task 1: Literature review, accident and fatality analysis, and best practices review and analysis

Task 2: Interviews with public officials

Task 3: Draft report

Task 4: Submission of final report

Technology Transfer:

At least one paper will be prepared and submitted to a refereed conference, such as the TRB Annual Meeting. Similarly, a minimum of one paper will be submitted to appropriate transportation journals, such as the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. Results of the project will also be disseminated through the MTI website where those interested will be able to access the final report.

Potential Benefits of Project:

Insight into how to design safety programs for cyclists that lower accident and fatality rates

Project Funding: $59,999.00