Explaining cycling speed variation during a trip

Abstract

Smooth cycling can improve the competitiveness of bicycles. Understanding cycling speed variation during a trip reveals the infrastructures or situations which promote or prevent smooth cycling. However, research on this topic is still limited. The present study analyses speed variation using data in the Netherlands collected with GPS devices, which record cycling speed every five seconds. Multilevel mixed-effects models are estimated to test the influence of factors at cyclist, trip and tracking point levels. Results show that male cyclists and people who prefer a high speed have a higher average personal speed. Longer trips and trips made by electric bicycles and sport bicycles have a greater average trip speed. All point level variables explain cycling speed variations. Precipitation and tail wind increase cycling speed, while both uphill and downhill cycling is slow. Cycling in natural and industrial areas is fast. Intersections, turns and their adjacent roads decrease cycling speed, and their negative influence is stronger for high-speed trips. Bike tracks, bike streets and bike lanes increase speed. These findings benefit other research which needs cycling speed information, such as cycling safety, mode choice and bicycle accessibility. Further, these findings provide additional evidence for smooth cycling infrastructure construction.