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The Bicycle: A study of efficiency, usage, and safety

Book
1975
An Foras Forbartha
€ 7.95 

Although the bicycle was the first personalised transport machine to be mass-produced, it had received little attention in road research for many decades prior to 1975, when this study was commissioned. This report summarises and reviews existing knowledge from an Irish aspect. At this time, it was believed that there were at least half a million bicycles in the Republic of Ireland, and many believed the usage would significantly increase if the major problem of safety arising from the speed differential between cyclists and motor vehicles were satisfactorily resolved.

Foreword

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BICYCLE

Ancestor of the bicycle

Growth of cycling craze in USA and Europe

Introduction of pneumatic tyre and first safety bicycle

Social acceptance of the bicycle

Recent boom in bicycle popularity due to pollution awareness, health aspects and energy crisis

 

MOBILITY AND ECONOMICS

Mobility and space advantage of bicycle in traffic

Efficient transformation of large volume of people with congestion, pollution or noise

Economics of owning and operating a bicycle compared with car

Economics of cycleway construction

ENERGY UTILIZATION, HEALTH AND ECOLOGY

Energy involved in cycling compared with walking

Energy expenditure for moving creatures and machine

Various modes of transportation energy use

Vehicle & Payload transport efficiency of bicycle and other forms of transport

Total energy use per passenger mile in cycling and driving

Physiological benefits of bicycle riding

Ecological aspects

 
EXPOSURE AND INJURY HAZARDS

Exposure to injury a serious deterrent a cycling

Injury risk and involvement risk

Accident statistics on Irish roads

Comparison of fatality/serious injury data for pedal cycles, car and motor cycles

Accidents per mile travelled

Physical and probability exposure

Annual trends in bicycle and motor vehicle fatalities

Decreasing and increasing injury levels

Collisions and falls

Location of cyclist accidents in Dublin area

Bicycle casualties by age distribution

Increased risk of collision in darkness hours

Need for reflectors and headlamps

Adverse weather effects and theft

 

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Highrise, standard and lightweight bicycle designs

Comparison of safety features

Standard and extreme handlebars

Subject and performance rating

Body injury and types of collision

Incompatibility of pedal cycle and motorized traffic

Advantages/ Disadvantages of bicycle lane striping

Removal of roadside obstacles

 
PATHWAY AND ROUTE DESIGN

Exclusive, restricted and shared cycleways

Disadvantages of separate cycleways

Cycle accident rates with and without cycle tracks

Increase of accidents at intersections

Effects on signalization and intersection capacity

Integrated bicycle/motor vehicle traffic flow

Residential street usage

 
IRISH ROAD CONDITIONS

Use of hard cycleways

Combined modes of transportation including bicycle, bus, train or car in single journey

Cycleway networks

Shared pedestrian facilities

Need for strict traffic low enforcement

 

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 
REFERENCES

APPENDIX A

Summary of Principal Regulations Relating to Pedal Cycles made under the Road Traffic Acts 1961-73

Bell and Brakes

Lighting and Reflectors

Cycle Tracks

Inspection of Pedal Cycles

 

Appendix B

Ownership and Usage in Various Countries

Author: Dr. D. F. Moore.

An Foras Forbartha Teoranta, The National Institute for Physical Planning and Construction Research, Irish Raleigh Industries Ltd., Road Research Fund,

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