Evaluation of methods to analyse the interaction of cyclists with their surroundings

BIKEALYZE evaluates the methods:

1. mobile eye tracking,
2. GPS and sensor-based motion data acquisition and
3. video-based data acquisition for analysing the interaction of cyclists with their environment in the context of a naturalistic cycling study.

In total 24 participants will be asked to complete standardized as well as free-choice routes in Salzburg and Vienna. Collected data will be analysed with respect to safety-critical events and (semi-)automatically referenced on the digital cycling infrastructure.

Results of the project:

1. evaluate the different methods concerning feasibility and added value,
2. identify and measure safety-critical events in the context of cycling infrastructure,
3. propose measures to increase bicycle safety and
4. define standards for conducting naturalistic cycling studies in Austria.

Naturalistic Cycling Studies have internationally gained considerable attention as scientific method to study the interaction of cyclists with their surrounding environment in a naturalistic manner. So far naturalistic cycling studies are not established in Austria. One of the open questions is concerned with the impact of different data acquisition methodologies on effort as well as knowledge gain.

BIKEALYZE collects naturalistic cycling data from 24 test persons participating in two experiments in Salzburg and Vienna and analyses the data automatically (sensor data) as well as manually (mobile eye tracking and video data) with respect to safety-critical events (e.g. collision avoidance, way-giving violations, abrupt braking, abrupt turnout). For the first experiment test persons are asked to cycle a standardized test route either in Salzburg or in Vienna. During the ride each participant collects highly-sampled motion data as well as mobile eye tracking data. For the second experiment participants in Salzburg and Vienna are asked to collect motion and video data for three weeks (one in summer, one in autumn and one in winter) during their daily bicycle rides. 

The experiment allows free route selection for participants with the suggestion to pass pre-defined locations as often as possible. Safety-critical events are extracted, categorized and mapped onto a digital map representing the cycling infrastructure of Salzburg and Vienna. Project results aim at identifying and evaluating safety-critical events in relation to the cycling infrastructure. Based on the identified events BIKEALYZE proposes measures to increase cycling safety through improved usage and accessibility of cycling infrastructure.

In parallel, BIKEALYZE evaluates the different data acquisition methods with respect to effort and knowledge gain for future naturalistic cycling studies. Especially effort and knowledge gain of mobile eye tracking data in the context of naturalistic cycling studies should be thoroughly considered, since mobile eye tracking has internationally not yet been intensively tested in the context of naturalistic cycling. Furthermore, as first naturalistic cycling study in Austria BIKEALYZE is expected to contribute to standards for further studies, with respect to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. Especially the usage of a map of the digital cycling infrastructure for referencing safety-critical events (GIP in Austria) has the potential to gain international attention. Target groups for the results of BIKEALYZE are all organizations and persons concerned with cycling infrastructure planning as well as cyclists? interest groups.