Cycling on the edge: the effects of edge lines, slanted kerbstones, shoulder, and edge strips on cycling behaviour of cyclists older than 50 years

To prevent single-bicycle crashes, this study is the first to evaluate effects of slanted kerbstones, edge lines, shoulder strips, and edge strips on cycling behaviour of cyclists ≥50 years. In Experiment 1, 32 participants cycled on a control path and paths with edge lines, slanted kerbstones, and three types of 0.5 m wide shoulder strips (with grey artificial grass, green artificial grass, or concrete street-print). In Experiment 2, 30 participants cycled a different route including a control path and paths with edge lines or 0.3 m white edge strips. Cyclists rode closer to the main cycle path’s edge in the shoulder strips conditions, although the presence of these strips resulted in a larger total distance to the verge compared to the control condition. Furthermore, cyclists cycled further from the verge in the edge strip condition than the control condition. Safety implications of the shoulder and edge strips are considered to be positive. Practitioner Summary: Older cyclists have a high risk for single-bicycle crashes (e.g. riding into the verge). In two experiments, cyclists ≥50 years cycled a route where different treatments were applied on a cycle path. Shoulder and edge strip treatments were related to more efficient path use and safer distances from the verge. Abbreviations: AGS: artificial grass strip; CL: control location; CSS: concrete street-print strip; ELC: edge line continuous; ELI: edge line intermittent; LP: lateral position; SDLP: standard deviation of the lateral position; SK: slanted kerbstones; WCES: white chippings edge strip

为预防单自行车事故（single-bicycle crashes），本研究首次评估了倾斜路缘石（slanted kerbstones）、边缘标线（edge lines）、路肩带（shoulder strips）及边缘带（edge strips）对50岁及以上骑行者骑行行为的影响。
实验1中，32名参与者分别在对照路径、设置有边缘标线、倾斜路缘石以及三种0.5米宽路肩带（分别铺设灰色人造草、绿色人造草或混凝土街面印花）的路径上骑行。
实验2中，30名参与者骑行一条包含对照路径、设置有边缘标线或0.3米宽白色边缘带的不同路线。
相较于对照条件，在路肩带条件下骑行者更靠近自行车主路径的边缘，但此时骑行者到路缘的总距离更大。此外，边缘带条件下骑行者与路缘的距离较对照条件更远。路肩带与边缘带的安全影响被认为是积极的。
从业者摘要：老年骑行者单自行车事故风险较高（例如骑行冲入路缘）。在两项实验中，50岁及以上骑行者骑行经过设置了不同处理措施的自行车路径。路肩带与边缘带处理措施可提升路径使用效率，并使骑行者与路缘保持更安全的距离。
缩写说明：AGS：人造草带（artificial grass strip）；CL：对照点位（control location）；CSS：混凝土街面印花带（concrete street-print strip）；ELC：连续边缘标线（edge line continuous）；ELI：间断边缘标线（edge line intermittent）；LP：侧向位置（lateral position）；SDLP：侧向位置标准差（standard deviation of the lateral position）；SK：倾斜路缘石（slanted kerbstones）；WCES：白色碎石边缘带（white chippings edge strip）