What affects the e‐bicycle speed perception in the era of eco‐sustainable mobility: A driving simulator study

Abstract

The increase in the number of electric bicycles worldwide has resulted in a rise in the number of traffic accidents involving e‐bicyclists. Previous studies have been based on analyzing the use, advantages and disadvantages of e‐bicycles, whereas only a small number of studies have been focused on analyzing the e‐bicycle traffic safety, particularly the factors leading to the occurrence of traffic accidents. One of the factors affecting the occurrence of traffic accidents is the incorrect perception of the e‐bicycle speed by other traffic participants. To examine the mentioned problem, the authors of this paper conducted an experimental study to determine what affects the e‐bicycle speed perception. The experiment included 175 participants, aged 18 to 50. The research was conducted under laboratory conditions using a driving simulator, at different e‐bicycle speeds (10 km/h, 20 km/h and 30 km/h), in the situations in which the e‐bicyclist was (not) using a reflective vest. The results show statistically significant differences in the e‐bicycle speed perception when the e‐bicyclist does not use/uses a reflective vest. Besides, the driving licence categories of traffic participants and their driving experience also have a significant impact on the perception of the e‐ bicycle speed.