Riding behavior of delivery riders at unsignalized intersections: an observational study

Professional delivery riders in China have experienced a sharp increase in traffic crashes, injuries, and fatality rates over recent years. This observational study sought to identify and analyze risk factors influencing riding behavior among electric bicycle delivery riders compared to other electric bicycle riders during potential conflicts at unsignalized intersections.

Two typical unsignalized intersections in Nantong City with mixed traffic (pedestrians, motorized and non-motorized vehicles) were selected for observation. Through systematic video coding and analysis of 637 min of continuous video observations, we extracted a total of 1,558 potential conflict events, including interactions between electric bicycle riders and pedestrians, motorized vehicles, or non-motorized vehicles. Among these events, 394 occurred under congested traffic and 1,164 under free-flowing traffic. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, non-parametric chi-square tests and logistic regression.

(1) Under congested traffic conditions, delivery riders generally exhibited more pronounced hazardous riding behaviors than other riders, and such differences were more obvious among male and young delivery riders; (2) Regardless of road user type, delivery riders exhibited a high proportion (about 20%) of hazardous riding behaviors under both traffic conditions; (3) During potential conflicts with motor vehicles in congested traffic, delivery riders engaged in more hazardous riding than other riders; (4) Professional delivery riders engaged in risky behavior at a rate 1.88 times that of other riders.

For delivery riders at unsignalized intersections, hazardous riding behaviors are influenced by the combined effects of traffic conditions, rider demographic characteristics, and potential conflict objects. Professional delivery riders exhibit the highest risk levels under congested traffic conditions, particularly during potential conflicts with motor vehicles. Findings reflect the influence of occupational demands, such as tight delivery schedules, on delivery riders' riding strategies in various contexts.