Effects of Bicycle Traffic on Vehicular Delays at Signalized Intersections with Pre-Right-Turn Lanes

The purpose of this paper was to better quantify the effects of bicycle traffic on vehicular delays at signal intersections with pre-right-turn lanes. Through videotaping several signalized intersections with pre-right-turn lanes in Kunming City, Jilin City, and Changchun City of China, traffic flow data was collected to analyze the interference between the vehicle flow and bicycle flow. It is found that with the increase of the bicycle traffic volume, the bicycle lanes become congested, and bicycle traffic is more likely to encroach into the travel path of motor vehicles, and thus results in the excessive vehicle delays. On the basis of empirical data, a calculation model was developed to quantify the relationship between the oversaturated bicycle flow and the additional operating delay caused by the bicycles. The result of the analysis can be used to calculate the capacity of the signalized intersections with pre-right-turn lanes and assist in developing guidelines for installation of pre-right-turn lanes at signalized intersections.