Research On The Behavioral Mechanism Of Electric Bicycles At Intersections

As a new technology vehicle,Electric bicycles(E-Bike)offers an effective solution for energy shortage and environmental problems.With the advantages of being flexible,convenient,economical,practical,and covering longer trip distance then bicycle,E-Bike has not only entered thousands of households but also become the first choice for short-distance travel in many cities in China.E-Bike is often involved in unsafe traffic behaviors such as running red light,crossing motor vehicle,and driving on the wrong lane,therefore disrupt the traffic order at the intersection area,which not only lowered the service level of the intersection and road section,but also increased the traffic accident rate.This study provides theoretical basis for increasing the traffic efficiency of signalized intersections and managing the E-Bike traffic.Based on the points mentioned above,the study is conducted under the premise of increasing the traffic security of E-Bike while using the operational characteristics of E-Bike at the signalized intersection as its core.The main research contents are as follows:In order to clarify the direction and the emphasis of the study,the author firstly reviews the overseas and domestic research status on normalization,characteristics,security and the management of E-Bike.Then by summarizing the video surveillance and the questionnaire results,the author studies the travel capacity and characteristics of E-Bike and the situation of E-Bike riders.In the end,the study builds the E-Bike queuing model and dilatation model by analyzing the operation law of E-Bike in the signalized intersection.These research results lay the foundations for further studies.The problems brought by E-Bike can be really complicated,especially when it’s passing through the intersection area.The conflicts and interferences between E-Bike and other vehicles at the intersection area will not only lowered the efficiency of the intersection,but also increased the possibility of traffic accident.What’s more,the unsafe behaviors such as running red light,reverse driving,overtaking,and speeding will also bring huge potential danger to the E-Bike riders.Therefore,analyze the interference mechanism and its characteristics between E-Bike and other vehicles at the signalized intersection,understand the characteristics of unsafe behaviors of E-Bike at the intersection area,and identify the causes for those unsafe behaviors are really helpful for increasing E-Bike’s safety at the intersection area.The vertical advance model and the lateral movement model of E-Bike are built basing on its operation characteristics and car-following theory.The gap acceptance model of the forward-moving E-Bike passing through the right-turning motor vehicles is built basing on the gap acceptance theory and the study of the microscopic behavior characteristics of electric bicycle at the intersection area.At last,the study models the red light running probability by using the generalized force model and combining the video surveillance and the research results of E-Bike rider’s intention to run red light.As the theoretical basis in the mixed traffic flow,these models will provide reference value in traffic measures for increasing E-Bike’s safety at the intersection area.In conclusion,the study is inspired by the overseas and domestic management experiences,combines with the research results,the management policies for E-Bike including three aspects,which are vehicle registration policy,rider registration policy,and the E-Bike lane policy.The vehicle registration policy includes the registration of vehicle category and vehicle license plate.The rider registration policy including the requirements on the age,physical condition,driving license,safety training,etc.,and the E-Bike lane policy mainly analyzes the road design,the intersection design,and the signal control,and further puts forward the E-Bike section design,such as adding optical illusion diagram on the lane,or separating motor-vehicles and non-motor vehicles.For the intersection design,the study comes up with the street-crossing optimal design,waiting area design for the left-turning E-Bike,parking area design for E-Bike,and relevant managing measures for signalized intersections.