What turns a bicycle street into a street for cyclists? A multimodal study on subjective safety of infrastructure measures on bicycle streets using an approach in virtual reality

Abstract

In an increasingly urban and sustainable transportation-focused world, cycling emerges as a key environmentally friendly and health-promoting mode of travel. This paper addresses the gap in understanding cyclists' subjective safety, particularly in relation to bicycle streets in Germany. Utilizing a multimodal approach, two studies were conducted: an online questionnaire (Study I) and a Virtual Reality (VR) evaluation (Study II), focusing on the Reichenhainer Straße in Chemnitz. Study I involved N = 182 participants who regularly used the bicycle street. The questionnaire covered various aspects including mobility behavior, cycling experience, and subjective safety, using a 6-point Likert scale. Infrastructure characteristics were represented through images. Results showed that participants generally felt safe on the bicycle street, with key factors being the lane width and restrictions on motorized traffic. Study II, a pioneering effort in using VR and stereoscopic 360° images for evaluating cycling infrastructure safety, involved N = 32 participants. It provided a realistic evaluation of infrastructure elements and their impact on perceived safety. The study revealed significant differences in safety ratings based on the presence of cars and cyclists' experience levels. The use of VR allowed for a focused examination of infrastructure characteristics and their perceived safety, highlighting potential areas for improvement. Both studies demonstrated consistent results, underscoring the subjective safety of the Reichenhainer Straße, which was perceived as safer than the average bike-accessible infrastructure in Chemnitz. The VR method proved effective for detailed evaluation of subjective safety, independent of participants' familiarity with the specific infrastructure. This approach offers a structured, controlled, and resource-efficient way to evaluate cycling infrastructure under laboratory conditions. In conclusion, the findings align with existing literature and emphasize the importance of lane width and reduced motorized traffic for cyclists' safety. The innovative VR method, while still developing, offers promising implications for future citizen participation initiatives and infrastructure planning projects, enabling efficient post-completion evaluations of subjective safety. Such practices are rare in German planning offices, highlighting the paper's contribution to enhancing urban cycling infrastructure planning and safety assessment.