How do They Ride? Analysis of Cycling Biomechanics (“MODELO-Rad” Project)

Eckart, Jochen and Bejarano, Martin (2024) How do They Ride? Analysis of Cycling Biomechanics (“MODELO-Rad” Project). KEEP ON PLANNING FOR THE REAL WORLD. Climate Change calls for Nature-based Solutions and Smart Technologies. Proceedings of REAL CORP 2024, 29th International Conference on Urban Development, Regional Planning and Information Society. pp. 733-742. ISSN 2521-3938

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Abstract

For the planning and design of appropriate cycling facilities, aspects such as capacity, continuity, and objective safety are often subjects of research, but an understanding from the cyclist´s perspective, including physical and biomechanical characteristics, remains superficial. Findings related to cyclist behaviour have not yet been systematically applied and there is limited information on the relationship between cycling behaviour and characteristics of transport infrastructure. The “MODELO-Rad” project aims to understand and model cycling from the perspective of cyclists. Desired speed, riding strategy, and braking distance, among others, are important for understanding bike rides and provide insight on the behavioural characteristics of cyclists from a biomechanical perspective. This research suggests that a bike ride in an urban area can be divided into distinctive behavioural phases, characterized by degrees of power, speed, and cadence. To capture patterns of behaviour among cyclists, this study had participants ride along different routes on "SensorBikes,” which are equipped with sensor technology, to collect over 300 km of observations. The empirical analysis finds that cycling can be described as behavioural phases between stops (mostly between intersections): an acceleration phase, characterized by high power peaks; a route phase, which is subdivided into stages according to the route conditions (constant travel, deceleration and intermediate acceleration, uphill and downhill rolling); and an approach phase to the stopping point, usually at traffic lights or road junctions. Within these phases, results vary substantially between different cycling facilities and across different groups of cyclists. This description of cycling as a mechanical process can serve as a basis for the development of a micromodelling approach to cycling behaviour and can consequently be used to improve the planning of cycling networks and bike infrastructure.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	infrastructure, planning, biomechanic, behaviour, cycling
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications H Social Sciences > HM Sociology Q Science > QM Human anatomy
Depositing User:	REAL CORP Administrator
Date Deposited:	30 Apr 2024 09:25
Last Modified:	10 May 2024 08:47
URI:	http://repository.corp.at/id/eprint/1139

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