A study was carried out by the Transport Research Group at Nottingham University, under contract to the Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL) to: (1) identify the level of use of different road types by two wheeled vehicles; and (2) to establish the road position normally taken up by motorcyclists and cyclists whilst travelling along the carriageway. This information could be used to identify the optimum position and type of vehicle detector for two wheeled vehicles, which would provide information for traffic management measures. Twenty sites were identified in Nottingham of which nine were selected for this study. Four of these sites, representing different road types, were chosen to measure speed and position from the kerb of motor and pedal cycles. Lines were marked on the road and the sites were filmed for several hours by video equipment. Data analysis revealed that: (i) total flows of traffic are related to road type; (ii) there is no relationship between pedal cycle flows and total flow; (iii) motor cycle flow is positively correlated to the total flow of traffic; and (iv) despite these trends large variations in motor and pedal cycle flows occur. These were site specific and related to other factors including time of day, season, and weather.
Abstract