Study on the Safety of Phase Transition Signals to E-Bikes

This study aims at analyzing the effects of phase transition signals on critical behavioral characteristics of e-bike riders from a safety point of view which includes their start-up behavior at the green onset following a red-green phase transition signal such as a red/yellow light (RY) or a red countdown (RC) and pass/stop decision behavior at a yellow onset following a green-red phase transition signal such as flashing green (FG) or green countdown (GC). Based on e-bike traveling data collected at five typical intersections in Shanghai, a significance comparative analysis during FG and GC was made using red/yellow-running violation rates as the evaluation index. Further research was developed on comparative analysis of the start-up time of e-bikes caused by RY and RC, respectively. The results concluded that e-bikes enjoy more safety to a certain extent in FG than in GC. RY and RC usually make e-bikes arrive at conflicting points ahead of time at the onset of a green light, which can weaken the protective effects of inter-green intervals on vehicles in adjacent phases and has a serious potential safety hazard.