Assessing Cyclist Safety on and Around Marietta Camppus
Disciplines
Civil Engineering | Transportation Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
[In the U.S. alone, 10’s of thousands of people die every year in car-related accidents, and the design of the roads can impact its role in future conflicts or the prevention of such. The use of bicycles and effective and safe road designs can allow for trips to be taken without the space requirement and emissions of a personal vehicle. Collisions involving bicycles can also be less severe than those involving vehicles, and they can improve public health as it is an active mode of transportation. But they can be more dangerous and time-consuming than driving if the necessary infrastructure is not effectively designed or built. This research project focuses on assessing the safety of bicyclists on and around the Marietta campus of Kennesaw State University. Our process is to record potential points of concern and create a ranking system to rank their safety and effectiveness at incorporating the use of bicycles. We will reference previous road safety studies to build a system that can effectively determine the “grade” of a specific section and use this to suggest improvements to the city officials of Marietta. The findings will inform infrastructure recommendations, including improved lane markings, enhanced connectivity to existing bike trails, and policy advocacy for cyclist-friendly campus planning. This study highlights the need for data-driven safety measures to encourage cycling as a viable campus transportation option.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Adam Kaplan
Assessing Cyclist Safety on and Around Marietta Camppus
[In the U.S. alone, 10’s of thousands of people die every year in car-related accidents, and the design of the roads can impact its role in future conflicts or the prevention of such. The use of bicycles and effective and safe road designs can allow for trips to be taken without the space requirement and emissions of a personal vehicle. Collisions involving bicycles can also be less severe than those involving vehicles, and they can improve public health as it is an active mode of transportation. But they can be more dangerous and time-consuming than driving if the necessary infrastructure is not effectively designed or built. This research project focuses on assessing the safety of bicyclists on and around the Marietta campus of Kennesaw State University. Our process is to record potential points of concern and create a ranking system to rank their safety and effectiveness at incorporating the use of bicycles. We will reference previous road safety studies to build a system that can effectively determine the “grade” of a specific section and use this to suggest improvements to the city officials of Marietta. The findings will inform infrastructure recommendations, including improved lane markings, enhanced connectivity to existing bike trails, and policy advocacy for cyclist-friendly campus planning. This study highlights the need for data-driven safety measures to encourage cycling as a viable campus transportation option.