Bicycle traffic flow characteristics: experimental results and comparisons

A series of experimental studies were made to determine the operating performance of a single bicycle, and the traditional traffc flow characteristics of a stream of bicycles and compare them to observed data. The bicycle was considered a road vehicle i.e., it operates in some general but unmarked travel lanes and is constrained by other bicycles. The details of the experimental procedures and results are described. Comparisons are made with other studies, and conclusions drawn from the studies are presented. It was found that under certain conditions, bicycle flow can be treated as vehicular flow, and the findings are presented for maximum capacity of bicycle paths, their level of service, width of a cycle pathway, the radius of turn for a path, and grades.