Micro simulation of cyclists - Velo City

Micro simulation of cyclistsNiels Tørslev, Director Traffic DepartmentRasmus Albrink, COWI A/S

Rising amount of cyclist in Copenhagen the past 40 years2Tilføj præsentationens titel i "Indsæt/ Sidehoved og Sidefod"

It is not just for fun - we have congestion on the cycle tracks3

Micro simulation of cyclists in peak hour traffic4Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

The project's background•The correct capacity•Estimated volumes•No left turn•Standard cyclistbehavior5Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

General method• Setting the basic parameters• Vehicle characteristics• Speed distributions• Acceleration distributions• Modeling bike paths• Following parameters• Overtaking parameters• Behavior at narrowing sections• Behavior at bus stops• Modeling cyclists in intersections• Behavior in waiting zones• Behavior at stop lines• Behavior at right turns6Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

General method•Traffic counts•Speed counts(even path, up hill, down hill, normal bikes, carrier bikes, electrical bikes)•Video material•Visual inspection•LiteratureAnalysis ofvideo materialTest in VISSIMComparingto videoValidation in regard totraffic volumes7Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

General method•More complex than initially assumed•Many different behavioral patterns along a bike path8Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

Example – Following and overtakingParameter Description Expectation to the calibration•Detailed understanding of the modelCC0The distance between two vehiclesat full stop.Less, as cyclists keep closertogether than cars in a queue.•Best guess for parameter settingsCC1Time distance between twomoving vehicles.Less, as two moving cyclists keepcloser together than cars.•The starting point for the project was lookingCC2Variation in the distance betweentwo successive vehiclesLess, as cyclists are moreindependent and behave moreindividually than driversat CC0 and CC1CC3The limit for when followingparameters come into playLess, as cyclists are moreindependent and behave moreindividually than drivers•Ended up adjusting CC0-CC9CC4Controls the negative speedvariations between two successivevehiclesLess, as cyclists are less willing to(less obliged to) adjust their speedthan driversCC5Controls the positive speedvariations between two successivevehiclesLess, as cyclists are less willing to(less obliged to) adjust their speedthan driversCC6The dependence in speed ofvariations in distance to thepreceding vehicleLess, as cyclists are less willing to(less obliged to) adjust their speedthan driversCC7Acceleration in responce tovariations in distance to thepreceding vehicleLess, as bicycles don't accelerateas fast as carsCC8 Desired acceleration from 0 km/h Less, as bicycles don't accelerateas fast as carsCC9 Desired acceleration at 80 km/h Much smaller. A linear accelerationto 80 km/h is used in thecomputations9Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

Example – Following and overtaking•The testing proces in VISSIM•Comparison of various settings•Calibration of the parameters•Visual validation•Validation in regard totraffic counts10Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

Example - Kampmannsgade/Vester Farimagsgade•COWI has conducted a bike simulation of the intersection Kampmannsgade/VesterFarimagsgade in Copenhagen close to Vesterport Station.•The primary purpose was to determine the necessary capacity in a waiting zone infront of the right turning motor vehicles from Kampmannsgade.•Basis•Solution11Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013

Conclusion•It is possible to build realistic models for the bicycle traffic in Copenhagen (andother cities), but it requires a solid knowledge of VISSIM as a simulation tool.•The model build-up is more complex than in the case of motorized traffic as cyclistshave a more individual behavior.•The project has determined some of the fundamental parameters, which hasbrought us much further.•Many intersection-specific behavioral patterns must be clarified before thesimulation•Not a standard tool12Micro simulation of cyclistsVelo City 2013