Crowd-sourcing data to improve biking and pedestrian safety presentation given by Figliozzi and Blanc of PSU's Masheeh College of Engineering and Design

1. TOWARDS SAFER BIKING AND WALKING ENVIRONMENTS
ORcycle: CROWD-SOURCING DATA TO IMPROVE BICYCLE
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND SAFETY
Research Team: Miguel Figliozzi (PI)
Bryan Blanc (*)
Bikram Maharjan (**)
Robin Murray (**)
Pam Johnson and other TTP-lab members (*)
(*) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PSU
(**) Department of Computer Science, PSU
OATS, March 30th, 2015
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2. Research Project Goals
 Pilot a cheaper and easier method to collect
bicycle data
 Understand impacts of riding skills and
personal characteristics on choices
 Quantify the underreporting of safety data
(crashes &. near-misses)
 Learn where cyclists travel and their level of
traffic and cycling stress
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3. Why a new app ?
 Emphasis on safety and infrastructure aspects
 New questionnaires and features
 Emphasis on cyclists’ types
 New questionnaires
 Answers with multiple choices and/or selections.
 Focus on new trip purposes and routes.
 Add reminders, useful info, and tutorials
 Encourage utilization
 More user friendly
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4. ORcycle: 4 basic parts
 Record Trips
 Report Safety Issues
 Crash or near-miss
 Safety problem (e.g. uneven pavement)
 User Data
 Biking habits and socio-demographic (optional)
 Links to maps and to report to ODOT
 ORcycle is not a substitute for reporting to the
agency that has jurisdiction
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5. Trip Questions
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Questions after completing a
trip:
- Purpose
- Frequency
- Route choice factors
- Comfort level
- Safety concerns? (optional)
- Additional comments?
(optional)

6. Report Questions
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Questions after completing a crash
report:
- Severity
- Object (vehicle)
- Actions that led to the event
- What contributed to the event
- Date
- Additional comments?
Questions after completing a safety
report:
- Urgency
- Type of problem
- Date
- Additional comments?

7. Recorded Trips
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User can review trips:
- Map
- Time, distance
- Questionnaire

8. Marking locations
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Added feature:
- Go back to your trip and
select points along the
route
- Only available for Android
version

9. Recorded Reports
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Color and shape coded
- safety/infrastructure issues
(a star)
- crash or near-miss
(a triangle)
User can review report:
- Map
- Questionnaire

10. Useful Links
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Added feature:
- Links to maps and to
report to
transportation
agencies

11. ORcycle Report Map
• Go to http://www.pdx.edu/transportation-
lab/orcycle-maps
• Two layers: crash data and safety issues
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12. 12
Safety/Infrastructure Reports
Issue Types

13. 13
Crash Reports
Conflict with vehicle or object

14. 14
Crash Reports
Actions related to the event

15. 15
Crash Reports
Reasons that contributed to the event

16. Value of comments and location
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“Drivers use the bike lane as a right hand turn lane
before entering the highway during morning rush hour
(8-9 am). Makes it extremely dangerous for cyclists to
pass, as they either are dodging traffic last minute or
duking it out in the lane with angry reactions…”

17. Value of comments and location
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18. Value of comments and photos
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North of Medford
Crater Lake Highway close to
I-5 interchange

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20. Value of comments and photos
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Right Turn Problems

21. Value of comments and photos
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Blocked bike lanes or paths

22. Value of comments and photos
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Infrastructure Issues

23. Value of comments and location
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“This intersection is confusing
for cyclists. The bike highway
infrastructure is great, BUT it
is divided in half by this
intersection. It's unclear how
to go through it in a
consistent and predictable
manner, especially going from
East to west.”

24. Final comments
 Team work
 A lot of work but rewarding results for a pilot
project
 Steep learning curve
 Power of geolocation + Google Maps +
Streetview
 Next steps…
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25. Learn more…
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About the project
http://www.pdx.edu/transportation-lab/orcycle
Download the app, for iOS or Android
Search “ORcycle” in the iTunes App Store or in
Google Play
Email us at: ttplab@pdx.edu

26. THANK YOU
Questions? Comments…
Visit the ORcycle webpage:
http://www.pdx.edu/transportation-lab/orcycle
Email us at: ttplab@pdx.edu
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