Abstract
As the traffic conditions at unsignalized intersections are complex and chaotic, the perceived satisfaction levels of bicyclists are controlled by several factors. Although complex, the Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) studies at this facility are highly important so as to improve its performance from the perspective of bicycling. This study is an initial attempt to identify and model the factors influencing BLOS at unsignalized intersections under mixed traffic conditions. For analysis purposes, extensive data sets on the geometric details and operational characteristics are collected from 70 unsignalized intersection approaches located in various parts of five Indian cities. Subsequently, eight variables (effective approach width, peak hour volume, conflicting traffic volume, and average bicycle delay, etc.) having significant influences on the perceived satisfaction levels of through bicyclists are identified. Of all these variables, the average bicycle delay is observed to have the highest influence on user-perceived BLOS. This suggests that the minimization of bicycle delay is the utmost important strategy to enhance perceived satisfaction levels of bicyclists. Further, a step-wise regression-based BLOS model has been developed for the service quality assessment at unsignalized intersection approaches. This model has shown a very good prediction ability in the present context with a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.83 with averaged observations. A service scale is also defined to convert the outcomes of this model to letter-graded service classes A–F (excellent–worst). The field application of these tools has shown that above 89% of the investigated sites are offering BLOS ‘C’ or inferior. This is a serious concern for the inhabitants in the long run. Hence, the modeled attributes should be prioritized (in their identified order of importance) in the transportation planning process to avail the better service classes effectively.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Davis, J.: Bicycle safety evaluation. Auburn University, City of Chattanooga and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, TN (1987)
Jensen, S.U.: Pedestrian and bicycle level of service at intersections, roundabouts and other crossings. Transportation Research Board’s 92nd Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., 19p. (2013)
TRB (Transportation Research Board): Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C. (2000)
TRB (Transportation Research Board): Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C. (2010)
TRB: Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C. (1985)
Pan, F., Zhang, L., Lu, J.: Unsignalized intersection level of service based on safety. Traffic and Transportation Studies 645–652, (2008). https://doi.org/10.1061/40995(322)60
Cassidy, M.J., Madanat, S.M., Wang, M.H., Yang, F.: Unsignalized intersection capacity and level of service: Revisiting critical gap. Transp. Res. Rec. 1484, 16–23 (1995)
Zhang, G., Chen, J., Zhao, J.: Safety Performance Evaluation of a Three-Leg Unsignalized Intersection Using Traffic Conflict Analysis. Mathematical Problems in Engineering 2017, (2017). https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2948750
Jamil, W.A.J., Ibrahim, W.H.W.: An Analysis of Unsignalised Intersection Using aaSIDRA Software. UNIMAS e-Journal of Civil Engineering 4(2), 13–17 (2013)
TRB: Highway capacity manual, 6th edn. A guide for multimodal mobility analysis, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C. (2016)
Chandra, S., Gangopadhyay, S., Velmurugan, S., Ravinder, K.: Indian Highway Capacity Manual (Indo-HCM). CSIR - Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi (2017)
Rouphail, N.M., Hummer, J.E., Milazzo, II J.S. and Allen, D.P.: Recommended Procedures for Chapter 13, “Pedestrians,” of the Highway Capacity Manual: FHWA-RD-98–107. (1998)
Bian, Y., Jian, L., Zhao, L.: Method to Determine Pedestrians Level of Service for Unsignalized Intersections. Applied Mechanics and Materials 253–255, 1936–1943 (2012). https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.253-255.1936
Landis, B., Vattikuti, V., Ottenberg, R., et al.: Intersection level of service for the bicycle through movement. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1828, 101–106 (2003). https://doi.org/10.3141/1828-12
Opiela, K.S., Khasnabis, S., Datta, T.K.: Determination of the Characteristics of Bicycle Traffic at Urban Intersections. Transportation Research Record: Transportation Research Board 743, 30–38 (1980)
Ferrara, T.C.: A Study of Two‐Lane Intersections and Crossings Under Combined Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Demands. Report No. 75‐5. Department of Transportation, University of California. (1975)
Steinman, N., Hines, K.: Methodology to assess design features for pedestrian and bicyclist crossings at signalized intersections. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1878, 42–50 (2004). https://doi.org/10.3141/1878-06
Carter, D.J., Hunter, W.W., Zegeer, C.V., Stewart, J.R., Huang, H.F. and Do, A.: Pedestrian and bicyclist intersection safety indices (No. FHWA-HRT-06–125). United States. Federal Highway Administration. (2006)
Carter, D.L., Hunter, W.W., Zegeer, C.V., Stewart, J.R., Huang, H.: Bicyclist intersection safety index. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2031, 18–24 (2007). https://doi.org/10.3141/2031-03
Dowling, R.G., Reinke, D.B., Flannery, A., Ryus, P., Vandehey, M., Petritsch, T.A., Landis, B.W., Rouphail, N.M., Bonneson, J.: NCHRP Report 616: Multimodal level of service analysis for urban streets. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, DC (2008)
Beura, S.K., Kumar, N.K. and Bhuyan, P.K.: Level of service for bicycle through movement at signalized intersections operating under heterogeneous traffic flow conditions. Transp. Dev. Econ. 3(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s40890-017-0051-z. (2017)
Beura, S.K., Bhuyan, P.K.: Quality of bicycle traffic management at urban road links and signalized intersections operating under mixed traffic conditions. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2672(36), 145–156 (2018a). https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118796350
Beura, S.K., Kumar, K.V., Suman, S., and Bhuyan, P.K.: Service Quality Analysis of Signalized Intersections from the Perspective of Bicycling. J. Transp. Health 16 (100827). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2020.100827. (2020)
IRC.: Guidelines for capacity of urban roads in plain areas. Indian Road Congress (IRC)-106, New Delhi. (1990)
Cochran, W.G.: Sampling techniques. John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York (1997)
Nash, J.E., Sutcliffe, J.V.: River flow forecasting through conceptual models part I-A discussion of principles. J. Hydrol. 10(3), 282–290 (1970)
Beura, S.K., Bhuyan, P.K.: Operational analysis of signalized street segments using multi-gene genetic programming and functional network techniques. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering 43(10), 5365–5386 (2018b). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-018-3176-4
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
none.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beura, S.K., Srivastava, A. & Bhuyan, P.K. Unsignalized Intersection Level of Service: A Bicyclist’s Perspective. Int. J. ITS Res. 19, 405–416 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13177-020-00244-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13177-020-00244-z