English abstract: In town centres one way roads are primarily used for directing and regulating vehicle traffic. On the other hand, for cycle traffic they often interrupt direct cycle traffic routes and make it more difficult to use low traffic urban roads. Therefore, in the past in many towns and cities one way roads were opened up for cycle traffic in the opposite direction. These developments and the mostly positive experiences led to the road traffic regulation, which came into force on 01.09.1997, that cycling in the opposite direction down one way roads may be allowed under certain circumstances – at least for test purposes until 31.12.2000. The aim of the investigation was an in-depth analysis of traffic safety in one way roads where cycle traffic was allowed in the opposite direction, and a comparison of the results with one way roads which were not opened up to cycle traffic in the opposite direction. The survey programme included a literature evaluation, an inquiry in towns and cities about current practice and application of the regulation, a broadly-based analysis of all accidents involving cyclists in one way roads from the year 1999 in numerous German Länder, an in-depth 3-4 year accident analysis in 15 selected cities, and counts and traffic behaviour observations in selected roads of these cities. The results of the investigation show that altogether there is only a limited problem regarding the traffic safety of cycle traffic in one way roads. Opening up one way roads to cycle traffic in the opposite direction shows no negative effects – neither with regard to the number of accidents nor the severity of the accidents. If other investigations are taken into consideration, the results even tend to show an increase in safety. Since the opening up of one way roads in urban streets can improve the attractiveness of cycle traffic without being linked to any negative effects on traffic safety, there are no reservations about a broad application of the regulation in the local authorities. However, possible problem points, for instance junctions, which – if necessary – can be made less problematic through improvement measures, means that an individual investigation of specific situations still appears necessary. A legal maximum speed limit of 30 km/hour should continue to be the prerequisite for opening up one way roads for cycle traffic in the opposite direction. Narrow alleys are not a criteria warranting exclusion, insofar as there are possibilities of avoiding obstacles. The original report contains enclosures with questionnaires for the city inquiries and a separate annex publication, which primarily contains a presentation of the individual results for different collectives of the broadly-based accident analysis and the accident data of the in-depth surveys in the selected cities. This publication does not contain the enclosures and the annex publication. They are available at the Federal Highway Research Institute and can be examined there. References to the enclosures and the annex were retained in the report text. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting