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Motor-vehicle drivers' behavioral response to increased bicycle traffic
1Department of Economics, Northwestern University, 2211 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
Journal of Safety Research
|September 21, 2020
Summary
More bicycles on the road lead to safer driving. Increased bike share usage correlates with fewer speeding violations, indicating drivers become more cautious.
Area of Science:
- Traffic Safety
- Urban Mobility
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Road safety is a major concern in urban environments.
- The interaction between motor vehicles and bicycles is complex.
- Understanding driver behavior in response to changing road conditions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of increased bicycle presence on motor-vehicle driver behavior.
- To determine if more cyclists on the road influence driver speed and adherence to traffic laws.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a public bike share program in Chicago.
- Collected data on speeding violations from 79 traffic cameras.
- Compared violation rates at locations with increased bicycle traffic to control locations over a 2.5-year period.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant relationship was found between increased bicycle usage and reduced speeding violations.
- An elasticity of -0.04 indicates a small but measurable decrease in speeding with more cyclists.
- The presence of more bicyclists encourages some motorists to drive more cautiously.
Conclusions:
- Increased bicycle presence can lead to improved motor-vehicle driver behavior.
- Drivers may moderate speeds, allowing more time for collision avoidance.
- This finding offers insight into reduced crash rates in areas with higher cyclist populations.
