The EU funded project XCYCLE aims to develop technologies that will reduce traffic-related deaths among bicycle riders, and will increase cyclers’ safety on the road.
The project gathers nine partners from five different countries, including universities, research centres and companies, such as Volvo and is coordinated by Professor Luca Pietrantoni from the Department of Psychology. The common objective is to equalise the treatment of cyclists in traffic by making cycling safer.
In Italy alone, an average of 50 accidents involving cyclists occur every day, amounting to a total of over 17,000 accidents concerning cyclists occur in Italy every year. 95 per cent of cyclists involved in these accidents are injured, of which 300 die every year.
Statistics confirm that this is not just an Italian problem. In many European countries cyclists are often victims of road accidents leading to injuries and even death. Also, cyclists are often not treated equally by traffic infrastructure and regulation. For instance traffic signals frequently fail to register their approach or presence.
To solve these issues, the XCYCLE project will manage several tasks.
On one hand, it will develop technologies aimed at improving systems of active and passive detection of cyclists that will inform drivers and cyclists of any hazards at road junctions. The hazard information will use tactical sensors placed in saddles, handles, or directly traffic lights.
On the other hand, users will have a central role in the project. Researchers will monitor and evaluate cyclists’ cognitive and perceptive processes and the extent to which they are willing to integrate the new technology in their cycling routines.
“New technologies for road safety must be effective and easy-to-use, otherwise they will be abandoned. If we want to promote the use of bicycle, we need to apt on perceptions and behaviours, in order to induce a collective change,” explained Pietrantoni. “In the cost-benefit analysis, behavioural changes will be translated into estimated crashes and casualties saved per system,” he added.
The project will focus on two practical cases: bicycle interaction with large vehicles and cars at intersections, and the provision of an immediate or extended green traffic light for cyclists approaching traffic signals.
The solutions developed by XCYCLE will be tested and assessed in the new research infrastructure for road safety in Braunschweig, Germany.
XCYCLE is a Horizon 2020 funded project that kicked off in June 2014 and will run for 42 months.
Besides the University of Bologna and Volvo, four research centres and universities and three other companies will participate in the project: University of Leeds, University of Groningen, Statens väg och transportforskningsinstitut, DLR, IMTECH Trafic, Infra BV, KITE SOLUTIONS Srl, and Jenoptik Robot GmbH.
In Italy alone, an average of 50 accidents involving cyclists occur every day, amounting to a total of over 17,000 accidents concerning cyclists occur in Italy every year. 95 per cent of cyclists involved in these accidents are injured, of which 300 die every year.
Statistics confirm that this is not just an Italian problem. In many European countries cyclists are often victims of road accidents leading to injuries and even death. Also, cyclists are often not treated equally by traffic infrastructure and regulation. For instance traffic signals frequently fail to register their approach or presence.
To solve these issues, the XCYCLE project will manage several tasks.
On one hand, it will develop technologies aimed at improving systems of active and passive detection of cyclists that will inform drivers and cyclists of any hazards at road junctions. The hazard information will use tactical sensors placed in saddles, handles, or directly traffic lights.
On the other hand, users will have a central role in the project. Researchers will monitor and evaluate cyclists’ cognitive and perceptive processes and the extent to which they are willing to integrate the new technology in their cycling routines.
“New technologies for road safety must be effective and easy-to-use, otherwise they will be abandoned. If we want to promote the use of bicycle, we need to apt on perceptions and behaviours, in order to induce a collective change,” explained Pietrantoni. “In the cost-benefit analysis, behavioural changes will be translated into estimated crashes and casualties saved per system,” he added.
The project will focus on two practical cases: bicycle interaction with large vehicles and cars at intersections, and the provision of an immediate or extended green traffic light for cyclists approaching traffic signals.
The solutions developed by XCYCLE will be tested and assessed in the new research infrastructure for road safety in Braunschweig, Germany.
XCYCLE is a Horizon 2020 funded project that kicked off in June 2014 and will run for 42 months.
Besides the University of Bologna and Volvo, four research centres and universities and three other companies will participate in the project: University of Leeds, University of Groningen, Statens väg och transportforskningsinstitut, DLR, IMTECH Trafic, Infra BV, KITE SOLUTIONS Srl, and Jenoptik Robot GmbH.
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