FOREWORD
Throughout the United States, there has been a dramatic increase in the varieties and numbers of nonmotorized users on trail and roadway facilities. Kick scooters, inline skates, hand cycles, recumbent bicycles, and other emerging users are now commonly seen sharing space with bicycles and pedestrians on roadways and shared use paths. Urban trail operators are reporting operational and safety problems associated with the increasing number of emerging users and their operational needs. User groups are petitioning State legislatures and local governments to legally operate their nonmotorized vehicles on roadways. The guidelines provided in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide to the Development of Bicycle Facilities are based on the physical dimensions and operating characteristics of bicycles only and may not meet the needs of emerging trail users. To address these issues, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsored this study to better understand the physical dimensions and operational characteristics of an increasingly diverse group of nonmotorized trail and roadway users.
The results of this study can be used to help design professionals adequately design roadway and shared use path facilities to meet the operational and safety needs of a more diverse group of users.
Michael Trentacoste
Director, Office of Safety
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
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Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No. FHWA-HRT-04-103 |
2. Government Accession No. | 3. Recipient's Catalog No. | |
| 4. Title and Subtitle Characteristics of Emerging Road and Trail Users and Their Safety |
5. Report Date October 2004 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code | |||
| 7. Author(s) Bruce W. Landis, Theodore A. Petritsch, and Herman F. Huang |
8. Performing Organization Report No. | ||
| 9. Performing Organization Name and Address Sprinkle Consulting, Inc. 18115 US Highway 41 North, Suite 600 Lutz, FL 33549 |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) | ||
| 11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-02-C-00026 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Federal Highway Administration Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 6300 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22101 |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report January 2002-January 2004 |
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| 14. Sponsoring Agency Code | |||
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15. Supplementary Notes Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR): Ann Do, Office of Safety Research and Development, HRDS-06 |
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16. Abstract This study was undertaken to clarify the operational characteristics of an increasingly diverse group of trail and other nonmotorized transportation users. Three "Ride for Science" data collection events were conducted to obtain the physical dimensions, turning capabilities, lateral operating space, acceleration, speed, and stopping sight distance of trail users. The results confirmed the great diversity in the operating characteristics of various road and trail user types. Some examples of findings include: Sweep Width-The 85th percentile inline skater had a 1.5-meter (m) (4.9-foot (ft) sweep width, wider than the AASHTO recommended width for bike lanes. Design Speed-Recumbent bicyclists had the highest observed 85th percentile speeds of 29 kilometers per hour (km/h) (18 miles per hour (mi/h)), less than AASHTO's minimum design speed. Horizontal Alignment-Most users did not reduce their speeds for turning radii greater than 16 m (52.5 ft). Stopping Sight Distance-A recumbent cyclist in the 85th percentile requires a stopping sight distance of 32.7 m (107.3 ft) on wet pavement, less than the AASHTO value. Vertical Alignment/Crest Vertical Curves-Recumbent bicyclists had a required length of a crest vertical curve of 46.7 m (153 ft), less than the AASHTO value. Signal Clearance Intervals-Five-second clearance intervals would provide insufficient time for most users (85th percentile users) to clear a five-lane (18.3-m (60-ft) wide) intersection. Characteristics of Segway® Users-Many characteristics of Segway users were comparable with those of other emerging trail users. These findings suggest that design guidelines may need to be revised to incorporate the needs of emerging trail users. The results of this study can be used to help design professionals adequately design roadway and shared use path facilities to meet the operational and safety needs of this growing group of users. |
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| 17. Key Word Bicyclists, emerging users, AASHTO, operating characteristics, shared use paths |
18. Distribution Statement No restrictions. |
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| 19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified |
20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages |
22. Price |
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
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