Research into space conflicts among cyclists, PMD users and pedestrians on shared footpaths (cyclists’ & PMD users’ perspective)

• Main Author: Khairul Yazid Azman
• Other Authors: Lum Kit Meng
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78608
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In Singapore, the two-wheel trend is picking up. Bicycles and Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) such as electric scooters and personal mobility aids are becoming increasingly popular. With shared footpaths of only 1.5 metres in width, all stakeholders such as pedestrians, cyclists and PMD users must share the space at close proximity. This project aims to study the behaviour of the users on these shared spaces and propose an engineering solution to reduce conflicts and accidents among them. The study will be done by perception survey and field observations using video cameras at one shared footpath and at one signalised crossing to observe road users’ actions especially during interaction. Results from before and after the treatment to the shared space were compared for the findings of this report. The main findings from this project are that keeping left behaviour improved with the introduction of the directional arrows as the treatment to the shared footpath. Footpath users were also more likely to stick to their original line of path, reducing dangerous zigzag movements. Interactions between the users were smoother, increasing the safety on the footpath. However, to understand further into space conflicts between users, future works have to be carried out for a more conclusive study. Possible areas to improve on are recognising other factors that may affect users’ behaviours and perception such as the distraction of mobile devices.