Field observations of young e-cyclists in Requirements* based on EN - PDF document

30 th ICTCT Workshop in Olomouc, Czech Republic Background: electric bicycles on 26 th – 27 th October 2017 o Electric power-assisted bicycles ( e-bicycles, e-bikes or pedelec ): a convenient form of mobility in urban areas Field observations of young e-cyclists in Requirements* based on EN 15194 Battery � The engine's maximum power does not Israeli cities: a characterization of typical exceed 250 watts behaviours and risk factors � The electric motor is powered by bicycle pedals � The engine power decreases with speed Engine on increasing and stops the operation when Victoria Gitelman the rear axis bicycle speed exceeds 25 kph Anna Korchatov Roby Carmel Age limits : 16 and above (since May 2016; earlier: 14+) Wafa Elias Vehicle and driving license requirements : none Where should they travel : on roads and on bicycle lanes Use of helmet : in urban areas, mandatory for cyclists under the age of 18 Transportation Research Institute Technion – Israel Institute of Technology *Israeli Traffic regulations, 2016 Trends in using e-bicycles Electric bicycles: substantial increase in injury, in Israel Annual EB sales by region and a forecast scenario until year 2020. Hurst and Gartner (2013) Trend in the no. of hospitalized persons due to electric bicycle and scooter accidents * N Import of e-bikes in Israel 2013 2014 2015 33,000 73,000 100,000 * National Trauma Registry � Half – children, particularly of ages 14-16 CBS 2015: injuries in accidents with electric bicycles or scooters Total Bicycle/ scooter Bicycle/ Pedestrians Other (reported by riders scooter vehicle Estimates the Police) passengers occupants of global e- bike sales: 1,174 925 59 95 95 Fishman and Cherry (2016) Literature: behaviours of e-bicycle riders Observational survey of young e-cyclists: framework In Europe/USA*: Aim: to explore young e-cyclists’ o Faster than regular bicycles but speed difference is low behaviours at various urban settings - o Safer behaviours relative to regular cyclists: helmet use, respecting signs, typical behaviours and interactions using cycling paths with other road users, during school- related and leisure trips o However: higher involvement in conflicts with other road users and higher injury compared to regular cyclists Sample population: In China # : high % of violations (red light running, carrying a passenger) 15 towns , 31 areas near high- schools + 18 in city centers Typical e-cyclist abroad : aged 30+, higher income and education level 150 sites + 75 sites = 225 In Israel: a growing use of e-bicycles among youngsters, below 18 Tools: dynamic video-recording of e- cyclists, in pre-defined hours Coding: * e-cyclist behaviours, * riding conditions, * interactions with other road users, * traffic law violations, * conflicts observed *Scaramuzza et al., 2015; Langford et al., 2015; MacArthur et al., 2014; Dozza et al., 2015 # Wu et al., 2012; Du et al., 2013; Yang et al., 2015

Observational survey of young e-cyclists: sample Results: profile of young e-cyclists by type of urban setting Types of sites (x 2 areas)*: o unsignalized junction o signalized junction o road section without bicycle path o road section with bicycle path o roundabout N: > 2000 short video-films N=69 43 63 46 572 66 185 116 506 303 * near high- schools and in city centers For both characteristics, sig. difference with p<0.001 Results: profile of young e-cyclists by type of urban setting (2) Examples of e-cyclist behaviours: at unsignalized junctions Sig. difference with p<0.001 for not wearing helmets, p<0.05 for carrying a passenger Examples of e-cyclist behaviours: at signalized junctions Examples of e-cyclist behaviours: on street sections (no bicycle path)

E-cyclist behaviours at un-signalized junctions (near schools) E-cyclist behaviours at un-signalized junctions (2) � Impact of road type on selecting place of riding Travel on section Travel on section Crossing a before junction after junction junction (N=394) (N=332) (N=415) On On On On On On sidewalk roadway roadway sidewalk sidewalk roadway 52% 31% 48% 53% 16% 65% • Moved On pedestrian � Speed of the rider related to other vehicles, on various road types • Did not slow slower than crosswalk 29% • Passed down before vehicles* – near the crosswalk - 47% • Did not slow pedestrians 16% • Changed down before the – 53% position on • Crossed by junction – 51% • Went down the roadway riding – 99% • Violated the order to the road – 20% • Changed the of turns* - 13% while riding • Went up to place to • Changed the place – 10% the roadway – roadway<>sidewal sidewalk – k – 4%-5% 34% 10% *when other vehicles are present Sig. difference with *p<0.1 E-cyclist behaviours at un-signalized junctions (3) E-cyclist behaviours at signalized junctions (near schools and in city centers) � Consistent preference of sidewalk vs roadway? Crossing a junction Travel on section after Preferable Preferable Near school (N=431; 225) junction (N=415; 181) Place of riding in 3 steps choice 1 choice 2 (N=197) 3 times sidewalk 11.2% sidewalk 2 times sidewalk, 1 time road sidewalk 19.8% On roadway On crosswalks On sidewalk On roadway 1 time sidewalk, 2 times road 18%; 33% (1…6) 82%; 67% 35%; 64% 65%; 36% 18.3% road 3 times road road 50.7% But no factor was significant in the explanatory models for the choices • Crossed on red – 14%, 17% • Crosses on red – • Did not slow down before 31%, 32% crossing* – 41%, 37% • Did not slow down before the junction - • Crossed by riding – 99% • Changed the place to roadway** 44%, 38% 3 2 – 12%, 17% • Changed the place to sidewalk – 1 5%,11% * decrease with the no of crosswalks ** increase with the no of crosswalks E-cyclist behaviours on street sections E-cyclist behaviours on street sections (2) � Riding on sidewalk or bicycle path (vs roadway)* � Behaviours when riding on a sidewalk (no bicycle path) � Behaviours when riding on a road (no bicycle path) Sig. difference with *p<0.001

Ways for safer integration of e-bicycles in Israeli cities Young e-cyclists’ behaviours: Summary Traffic law violations: � Wider application of bicycle - riders below 16 Bicycle infrastructure , with better - not wearing a helmet path separation between the sidewalks, - using pedestrian facilities for riding: sidewalks, crosswalks roadways and bicycle paths → Dangerous behaviours: Guidelines (2009) - not slowing down before a crosswalk or a junction the same arrangements as for regular - crossing on red bicycles - changing place of riding between sidewalk/roadway and inside sidewalk/roadway Bicycle - moving faster than pedestrians and endangering them on sidewalks crossing � Road safety education and training - disturbing vehicle traffic and endangering themselves while riding on the of young e-bicyclists road � Stronger enforcement of traffic regulations regarding e-bicycles, focus on fitting to EN 15194 Bicycle path