Green, Nathan Andrew (2013) Investigation of cyclist safety within the Brisbane Bicycle Hire Scheme. [USQ Project]
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Abstract
The purpose of this research was to investigate cyclist safety within successful international public bicycle hire schemes and compare it to Brisbane’s CityCycle scheme to determine if poor cyclist safety is a contributing factor to the lack of success the scheme has experienced.
A literature review was undertaken to determine trends in cyclist safety amongst international and national bicycle hire schemes. The main topics of cyclist safety that were focused on for the literature review were the roles of infrastructure, helmet use and perceptions related to cycling.
The information found from the literature review helped to draw conclusions on cyclist safety trends and help formulate research questions to explore further. The main reoccurring trend in the literature was that countries with the highest cycling rates also had the lowest rate of accident risk for cyclists (Vandenbulcke et al. 2009). Literature suggested that the way to increase cycling rates and to replicate such a trend within Brisbane and the CityCycle scheme would be to repeal the mandatory helmet laws and to increase infrastructure that positively promotes cycling for all demographics. The role of infrastructure in the CityCycle scheme was chosen to explore further, from which the following research question was asked: does the current infrastructure within Brisbane provide perceived and actual safety to all types of users of the CityCycle scheme?
A method of gathering data was designed to assess the proposed research question. A quantitative research method approach was used on this case study on the state of infrastructure within Brisbane and how it affects the CityCycle scheme. A modified evaluation model was used for assessing the safety components of cycling infrastructure within a specific target area in Brisbane chosen for its broad range of infrastructure. The results were expressed in tabular form as well as maps highlighting the scores for each piece of infrastructure.
The results indicated that there were clearly areas where the current infrastructure within Brisbane does not support cyclist safety. The key problems with infrastructure included: cycle lane widths, inconsistencies with infrastructure at intersections, limited cycling routes for inexperienced cyclists and lack of connectivity between cycling infrastructure.
It was concluded that these shortfalls in actual and perceived safety would be impacting the CityCycle scheme and the number of trips that it generates.
The following recommendations were proposed to increase the perceived and actual safety of cyclists:
*Cycle lanes where parallel parking is present need to be widened wherever road reserve widths allow it, to at least the minimum Austroads standard of 3.7 metres wide
*Linemarking and waiting areas need to be clearly marked for cyclists at both signalised and unsignalised intersections
*Expanding the cycle path network to promote other routes for inexperienced cyclists to ride
*Filling in the cycling infrastructure gaps to increase the connectivity of infrastructure
The implementation of these recommendations would help to improve trip numbers in the CityCycle scheme and also help to increase general cycling rates within Brisbane.
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