These proceedings document the 1994 Australian Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Travel Workshop held by the Australian Road Research Board in Melbourne, Victoria, on 19-21 April 1994. The workshop was timely given the publication of AUSTROADS' `Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice: Part 14 - Bicycles' dealing with bicycles and pedestrians. The workshop combined a series of papers and discussion sessions, and brought together representatives from State and Local Government, consultants, researchers and user groups. Because of the strong response to the workshop from individuals throughout the country, it provided a good national coverage of pedestrian and cycling issues. Topics covered included pedestrian and bicycle movements and accidents, school age pedestrians and cyclists, bicycle helmets, footpath cycling, pedestrian audits, planning, signalised crossings and conspicuity. During the discussion sessions emerging issues for research and improved practice were identified. Two themes were used to structure the discussion sessions: `Safety' and `Travel'. The discussion sessions also examined the trade-offs between these two dimensions which are of fundamental importance in non-motorised transport; for example, encouraging more movement by foot or bicycle for health and environmental reasons has a negative safety trade-off because of the increased exposure. Conversely, safety initiatives, such as mandatory helmets for cyclists, improve the safety of those who are riding but appear to cause a decrease in cycling participation. Therefore, those who are discouraged from riding because of the helmet may lose the health benefits associated with riding. (A)
Abstract