LAUSR

Bicycle speed estimation is important for geometric design, traffic signal operations, microsimulation models, and health and safety assessment, among other applications. Bicycle speeds can vary greatly with the characteristics and power output of the rider and with travel conditions, especially road grade. This study presents a mathematical framework to address the non-trivial and practical problem of estimating bicycle free-flow speeds in a way that is sensitive to cyclist and roadway attributes. A closed expression is derived from first principles to determine speed from bicyclist power output. The method is extended to the problem of speed estimation for bicycles with limited gearing. Results are consistent with speed surveys in the literature. Application of the method to clearance interval calculation demonstrates the importance of context-sensitive bicycle speed estimation for advanced traffic signal systems.