Effects of on-street parking on cyclist route choice and the operational behavior of cyclists and motorists.

Torrance, Kristen. · 2009 · ROSA P / Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office

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Summary

This study addresses the operational impacts of on-street parking on cyclist and motorist behavior and evaluates how such parking influences bicyclists’ route choice preferences. Motivated by the need to encourage non-motorized travel and improve safety, the research aims to provide empirical evidence to update bicycle facility design guidelines, specifically addressing hazards like "dooring" collisions and lane encroachments. The study seeks to determine the effectiveness of various roadway designs, such as bike lanes with buffers versus wide outside lanes, in mitigating these risks and influencing cyclist decisions. The research employed a two-pronged methodology. First, a field study collected over 6,400 observations of motorists and cyclists in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Researchers recorded lateral positions and encroachment events to develop multivariate regression models predicting behavior adjacent to on-street parking. Second, a web-based stated preference survey of Texas bicyclists was conducted to analyze route choice preferences. This survey examined a comprehensive set of attributes, including bicyclist demographics, on-street parking characteristics, facility types, roadway physical and functional features, and operational conditions. Panel mixed multinomial logit models were used to analyze the survey data, allowing for the assessment of trade-offs among various route attributes. The operational analysis revealed that on-street parking significantly impacts the lateral positioning of both cyclists and motorists. The models indicated that a bike lane combined with a buffer space is the only design configuration that completely removes cyclists from the "door zone," thereby mitigating dooring risks. Furthermore, a designated bicycle lane was found to be more effective than a wide outside lane in managing operational behavior. These findings led to updates in the Texas Guide for Planned and Retrofit Bike Facilities to include specific recommendations for on-street parking scenarios. In the route choice analysis, the study found that travel time is the most critical attribute for commuters when selecting bicycle routes. However, other factors significantly influence decisions, including traffic volume, speed limits, on-street parking characteristics, route continuity, the number of stop signs and traffic signals, and roadway terrain. The results emphasize the importance of considering both route-related attributes and bicyclist demographics in planning. By integrating operational data with preference modeling, the study highlights the interrelationship between roadway design and user behavior, providing planners with tools to design safer, more efficient bikeways that encourage cycling as a viable transportation mode.

Key finding

A bike lane combined with a buffer space is the only configuration that completely removes cyclists from the door zone, and travel time is the most important attribute for commuters in choosing their routes.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 6400

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• cyclist safety