Related projects
We have run several studies in the past, looking into different aspects of cycling on rural roads, with a special focus on overtaking. Overall, the results show that cyclists prefer motorists to perform a full lane change when overtaking, and avoid passing when there is oncoming traffic or low visibility.
Literature review on various aspects of cycling on rural roads
Study in real traffic with long combination vehicles and ambient traffic overtaking cyclists. Passing distance and speed were measured and cyclists rated how they perceived the overtakes:
Increased cycling, even in rural areas, is important for a transition to a more sustainable transport system. Also, long combination vehicles (LCVs), in Sweden labelled high-capacity transport (HCT) up to 34.5 m (the previous limit was 25.25 m), can contribute to this goal. If granted access to a larger share of the road network, those trucks can be used more effectively. However, cycling and other active transport modes on those roads may be negatively impacted. To investigate direct and indirect effects on cyclists when LCVs use the same road, a study was conducted in real traffic.
Nineteen experienced road cyclists rode on a 5 km-long rural road segment. Three trucks of different lengths were driven along the same route, instructed to overtake the cyclists where possible and with a full lane change. This generated 175 overtakes by the trucks and 607 overtakes by other traffic. The cyclists reported that overtaking by the trucks felt safe if a full lane change was made while overtaking, and found the length of the trucks to be irrelevant.
The trucks needed more time to overtake than other traffic, and they also waited longer for an overtaking opportunity. In a car-following situation, the clearance of the following vehicles was influenced by the lead vehicle, making it especially important for heavy vehicles to give cyclists a wide berth.
Pending further investigations, the conclusion is that for cyclists to feel safe, a full lane change when overtaking should be standard procedure not only for LCVs, but for motorised traffic in general.
Long combination vehicles overtaking cyclists: a field study in regular traffic
Cycling in rural areas is different from cycling in urban areas in that speeds of motorised vehicles are usually higher, and the interactions with other traffic almost exclusively consist of encountering oncoming traffic or being overtaken at the discretion of other traffic. Most cycling related research and politics focus on urban areas and the acquired knowledge cannot always be transferred to rural areas. The aim of this report is to provide an overview of the literature focusing on cycling in rural areas mainly with respect to safety, comfort, adequacy for cycling, and barriers and enablers for cycling. Findings and results are presented and discussed by topic, followed by a higher-level discussion focusing on issues and possibilities for increased and safe cycling. This also includes an identification of knowledge gaps.
Presently, cycling is marginalised as a mode of transportation in the public discourse, in policies, provision of infrastructure, financing and research, and this is even more distinct for cycling in rural areas. For cycling to increase substantially in modal share, it is not enough to increase the number of cycling trips made by people who already cycle today. It is necessary that also people who do not cycle must take up cycling, which means that provisions have to be made that cater to those people’s needs. While further research is necessary here, it is known that bikeable routes that are well connected are a basic precondition, which must be coupled with effective incentives to increase cycling. This requires a remaking of the transportation policy as a whole with a systematic prioritisation of sustainable travel, which incorporates the heterogeneity of current and prospective cyclists. Special care must be taken to also consider the conditions in rural areas, to make the most of the total potential for cycling.
Cycling in rural areas: an overview of national and international literature
In-depth analysis of research and regulations on overtaking of cyclists on rural roads:
This report compiles knowledge about spatial requirements of cyclists when being overtaken, mainly on rural roads, considering accessibility, traffic safety and security for cyclists. The report also touches on related issues such as the lateral positioning of cyclists and cycling abreast. These two topics also affect the spatial requirements on cycle paths, which means that parts of the information taken up here is also included in VTI rapport 1155. The results in the report are based on an international compilation of regulations regarding cycling and relevant research literature with respect to "keeping to the right", "cycling abreast", "cycling on the road" and "overtaking of cyclists".
Research shows that measures are required to ensure that overtaking of cyclists by motorists in mixed traffic becomes safe and is perceived as safe by the cyclists. This is a basic prerequisite for increased and safe cycling, not least on rural roads. Possible measures are rule adaptations (which is discussed in the report), information campaigns or improvements to the infrastructure for cyclists. A difficulty with today's regulation is determining what a "safe distance" implies. Further research on the topic is needed to be able to provide clearer guidance.
Overtaking cyclists in mixed traffic: Knowledge basis for recommendations for safer cycling
Simulator study assessing what different cyclist types consider being a comfortable way of being overtaken by a motor vehicle:
Swedish law mandates overtaking with a “reassuring” lateral distance, but what this concretely means in different contexts is neither well-defined nor known. One of the key barriers to cycling on rural roads is the fear of dangerous overtaking situations, which limits the potential for increased active transport in these areas.
A multidisciplinary approach was employed to assess the scope of the issue, to define the requirements for a reassuring overtake, explore possible solutions, and evaluate the potential impact at a municipal level. A representative survey revealed that many people are willing to cycle on rural roads under the right conditions. Tests conducted in an immersive virtual-reality simulator, involving seven different road types and various cyclist categories, showed that a reassuring overtake requires at least 2.5 to 3 meters of lateral distance or a full lane change. On narrower roads, the lack of lateral space must be compensated by a speed reduction. Potential solutions from areas such as technology and innovation, infrastructure, communication, and legislation were identified, but they need further testing to assess their effectiveness to improve the traffic situation for cycling. The road types studied represent a significant portion of the rural road network in a typical Swedish municipality, making it feasible to project improvements in accessibility and connectivity for cyclists. The countermeasures can be tested in the already available virtual environments.
The method developed and demonstrated in this project, with its broad scope and human-centered focus, shows promise for assessing other barriers to active transport as well.
Test track study with long combination vehicles assessing cyclist comfort depending on passing distance, speed and vehicle length:
Since December 2023, so-called High-Capacity Transport vehicles (up to 34.5 m length) are allowed on parts of the Swedish network of primarily divided roads. Investigations are ongoing under which premises longer HCT vehicles can be allowed on undivided rural roads, where cyclists and other active travellers may be present.
On rural roads, overtaking manoeuvres are a frequently occurring encounter between cyclists and motorists. The fear related to dangerous overtakes is a major deterrent to rural cycling, and the aerodynamic load generated, especially by large vehicles, may pose a danger in that it could affect cyclists' stability.
To systematically investigate the effects of lateral distance, overtaking vehicle speed and truck length on cyclists' stability and perception of discomfort, a controlled study was conducted in a laboratory setting. In a 700 m long tent, 23 experienced road cyclists rode on free rollers while being overtaken by a 16.5 m and a 32.5 m long truck combination at 50 and 80 km/h, with lateral distances of 1 m, 1.5 m and 2 m.
Additionally, a reference overtake was run, reflecting a full lane change at reduced speed (16.5 m truck, 50 km/h, 3.5 m). Lateral distance had the largest impact on aerodynamic load and discomfort ratings, followed by speed. The length of the truck only had a minor effect. The cyclists’ lateral position on the rollers was not affected by any of the three factors, but increased slightly from before to during to after the overtaking manoeuvre, regardless of the condition.
Based on these findings, a full lane change is recommended when overtaking cyclists. To what extent speed adaptation is appropriate as a compensatory measure needs to be investigated further.
Effects of heavy trucks on cyclists during overtaking manoeuvres: a controlled study
Study in real traffic with long combination vehicles and ambient traffic overtaking cyclists. Passing distance and speed were measured and cyclists rated how they perceived the overtakes:
Increased cycling, also in rural areas, is important for transitioning to a more sustainable transport system. Also, long combination vehicles (LCVs), in Sweden labelled high-capacity transport (HCT; up to 34.5 m, the previous limit was 25.25 m) can contribute to this goal. If granted access to a larger share of the road network, those trucks can be used more effectively. However, cycling and other active transport on those roads may be negatively impacted.
To investigate direct and indirect effects on cyclists when LCVs are using the same road, a study was conducted in real traffic. Nineteen experienced road cyclists rode on a 5 km long rural road segment. Three trucks of different lengths were driven along the same route, instructed to overtake the cyclists where possible and with a full lane change. This generated 175 overtakes by the trucks and 607 overtakes by other traffic. The cyclists reported the overtakes with the trucks to feel safe and found the length of the truck not to be relevant if a full lane change was made while overtaking. The trucks needed more time to overtake than other traffic, and they also waited longer for an overtaking opportunity.
In a car-following situation, the clearance of the following vehicles was influenced by the lead vehicle, making it especially important for heavy vehicles to give cyclists a wide berth. Pending further investigations, the conclusion is that for cyclists to feel safe, a full lane change when overtaking should be standard procedure not only for LCVs, but for motorised traffic in general.
Long combination vehicles overtaking cyclists: a field study in regular traffic
ComCy is funded by Vinnova under the Human-Centred Mobility programme, as well as by Cykelcentrum, VTI, and all partners.