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Traffic Dynamics of Bicycle Flow: Experiment and Modeling

Author

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  • Rui Jiang

    (MOE Key Laboratory for Urban Transportation Complex Systems Theory and Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, 100044 Beijing, China; School of Engineering Science, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, China)

  • Mao-Bin Hu

    (School of Engineering Science, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, China)

  • Qing-Song Wu

    (School of Engineering Science, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, China)

  • Wei-Guo Song

    (State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, China)

Abstract

Cycling has been advocated by many governments because it is a healthy and green transportation mode and it helps mitigate traffic congestion. However, compared with vast amounts of works on vehicle flow and pedestrian flow, the bicycle flow study currently lags behind. We have carried out experimental studies on bicycle flow on a 146 meters long circular road and on an on-ramp system. We present the fundamental diagram of bicycle flow and the trajectories of each bicycle on the circular road. We have analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of bicycle flow and found that jams spontaneously form above a critical density of approximately 0.37 bicycles/m. For the on-ramp system, no capacity drop has been observed. The similarity and difference between bicycle flow and vehicle flow has been discussed. We propose a cellular automaton model of bicycle flow, and the simulation results are in agreement with the experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Jiang & Mao-Bin Hu & Qing-Song Wu & Wei-Guo Song, 2017. "Traffic Dynamics of Bicycle Flow: Experiment and Modeling," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 51(3), pages 998-1008, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:51:y:2017:i:3:p:998-1008
    DOI: 10.287/trsc.2016.0690
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabien Leurent, 2022. "On the ratios of urban mobility, Part 1: the HoTer model of travel demand and network flows," CIRED Working Papers hal-03805030, HAL.
    2. Paulsen, Mads & Rasmussen, Thomas Kjær & Nielsen, Otto Anker, 2019. "Fast or forced to follow: A speed heterogeneous approach to congested multi-lane bicycle traffic simulation," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 72-98.
    3. Li, Meng & Chen, Tao & Du, Hao & Ma, Na & Xi, Xinwei, 2022. "The speed and configuration of cyclist social groups: A field study," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 592(C).
    4. Yang, Xiaofang & Fu, Qiang, 2025. "Bicycle longitudinal elastic cellular automaton model based on behavior characteristics analysis," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 667(C).
    5. Guo, Ning & Jiang, Rui & Wong, S.C. & Hao, Qing-Yi & Xue, Shu-Qi & Xiao, Yao & Wu, Chao-Yun, 2020. "Modeling the interactions of pedestrians and cyclists in mixed flow conditions in uni- and bidirectional flows on a shared pedestrian-cycle road," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 259-284.
    6. Hao, Qing-Yi & Jiang, Rui & Hu, Mao-Bin & Wu, Chao-Yun & Guo, Ning, 2022. "Analytical investigation on totally asymmetric simple exclusion process with Langmuir kinetics and a parallel update with two sub-steps," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    7. Fabien Leurent, 2022. "On the ratios of urban mobility, Part 1: the HoTer model of travel demand and network flows," Working Papers hal-03805030, HAL.

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