Is Red the New Black? A Quasi-Experimental Study Comparing Perceptions of Differently Coloured Cycle Lanes

Area of Science:

• Urban planning
• Transportation engineering
• Human-computer interaction

Background:

• Cities worldwide are increasingly using colored cycle lanes to improve safety and visibility.
• The choice of color (red, blue, green) lacks clear justification, leading to uncertainty about optimal selection.
• Existing research offers limited insight into the perceptual and behavioral impacts of different cycle lane colors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if colored cycle lanes are perceived more positively than uncolored lanes.
• To determine if specific colors (red, blue, green) enhance perceived safety and cyclist invitation.
• To assess if certain colors deter motorists more effectively than others.

Main Methods:

• A web survey was conducted with 560 respondents from Norway's four largest cities.
• Respondents were categorized as motorists (n=354) or cyclists (n=206) based on cycling frequency.
• Participants rated uncolored, blue, green, and red cycle lanes on attributes like visibility, safety, and invitation.

Main Results:

• Uncolored lanes received the lowest ratings for visibility, perceived safety, and invitation.
• Green and red lanes were rated more positively than blue lanes.
• Preference between red and green lanes depended on prior exposure to colored cycle lanes; familiarity with red lanes in Norway led to higher ratings for red.

Conclusions:

• Colored cycle lanes are perceived more positively than uncolored lanes, with color choice significantly impacting perception.
• Familiarity with specific colors, such as red in Norway, influences preference and perceived effectiveness.
• The choice of color is crucial for optimizing cycle lane perception and potentially influencing cyclist and motorist behavior.