Bicycle-Vehicle Interactions at Mid-Sections of Mixed Traffic Streets: Examining Passing Distance and Bicycle Comfort Perception

This research studies relevant factors in mixed traffic that may impact bicycling comfort in Ottawa, Canada. The observations are: [i] the average position of bicyclists from the curb is 0.57m, and lesser (i.e. 0.35m) in the presence of parking; [ii] bicyclist ride slightly further from curbs for two lanes in travel direction compared to single lanes; [iii] 90% of passes exceed 1.23m; [iv] lateral spacing between bicycles and vehicles (passing distance, PD) is positively correlated to motor vehicle speed, lane width, and bicyclist position from adjacent curb edge line, whiles inversely correlated to ambient traffic density and bicycle speed; [v] motor speed has the highest prediction of PD variability. Two linear regression models for PD and Comfort perception were developed, both exhibiting limited predictive power similar to Love et al. (2012) and Stewart and McHale (2014). Residual plots and significance of included variables are however indicative of correct model assumptions.