Flow Characteristics on Shared Hiking/Biking/Jogging Trails

Abstract

Trails shared by hikers, bicyclists, and joggers present the unusual traffic flow situation of a facility serving three classes of users with distinctly different flow characteristics. Data on typical trail volumes are summarized. A procedure developed by Botma to describe quality of flow on shared pedestrian/bicycle paths is then discussed. Data from two sites, the MKT Trail in Columbia, Missouri, and a riverside trail in Brisbane, Australia, were collected to describe speed and passing time characteristics on shared trails. The frequency of desired overtakings (passes) and potential conflicts on trails are estimated based on measured speeds and passing times using basic relationships of traffic flow theory. These estimates are then compared with measured values of overtaking frequency and delayed overtakings. The estimates for passing demand and potential conflicts were higher than the measured values for hikers passing hikers and joggers passing hikers. However, estimates for bike passing bike, bike passing jogger, bike passing hiker, and jogger passing jogger were found to be similar to the measured values. The results support the Botma framework for describing quality of flow on shared pedestrian/bicycle paths.