Evaluation of cyclists' preference on guardrails on urban roads: a stated choice analysis based on a panel mixed regret-based model
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Cycling as a sustainable mode of transport has become more prominent in urban settings. However, the design of bicycle infrastructure, particularly the setup of guardrails, directly impacts cyclists' sense of security and comfort. This study assessed cyclists' preferences for different types of guardrails and how these guardrails influence perceived safety and comfort through a stated choice experiment. Cyclists were asked to choose among stepping stone guardrails, metal guardrails, and warning post guardrails under varying hypothetical scenarios, considering factors such as colored pavements, traffic volume, weather, and vehicle type of adjacent lanes. A random parameter utility model and random parameter regret model were adopted to explore the possible factors and choice of guardrails. The results revealed that increases in traffic volume and changes in colored pavements significantly heightened the likelihood of choosing warning post guardrails, indicating that cyclists prefer guardrails that offer a higher sense of security in areas with dense traffic. Moreover, younger cyclists and those with higher educational levels exhibited a preference for warning post guardrails, reflecting their greater safety needs and sensitivity to traffic environments. These findings provide empirical support for urban bicycle lane design and offer insights for the formulation of effective urban traffic safety policies.
Authors: Yan Sun, Zhongxiang Feng, Dianchen Zhu
Institution: Hefei University of Technology
Language: English
Topic: Traffic and Road Safety
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4404997989