Transport for London Urban Motorcycle Design Handbook MAYOR OF LONDON Introduction Contents Motorcyclists are a unique road user group with specific characteristics. 1.0 Design Requirements 4 Motorcycles are very manoeuvrable, but their distinctive grip and balance 1.1 Introduction 4 requirements in combination with a range of other factors mean that they are at a higher risk of being involved in a collision. 1.2 Factors Influencing Motorcyclist’s Behaviour 4 This Urban Motorcycle Design Handbook sets out the key highway design 1.3 The ‘Design’ Motorcycle 5 requirements for motorcycle safety in London and has been developed 1.4 London Specific Factors 5 with valuable input from stakeholder groups. Using this Handbook will 1.5 How are London Motorcyclists Being Injured? 7 lead to a better understanding of how road and traffic conditions affect motorcyclists and how risks can be reduced and hazards minimised for this 1.6 Key Challenges Faced by Motorcyclists 8 vulnerable road user group. The key design issues for motorcyclists are: 1.7 Motorcyclists & Cyclists 9 1) Factors affecting grip 2.0 Design Issues 10 2) Issues around visibility 3) Road-side features 2.1 The Five Key Design Issues for Motorcyclists 10 4) Traffic calming 2.2 Design Issue Number 1 – Factors Affecting Grip 11 5) Filtering 2.3 Design Issue Number 2 – Visibility 17 The aim of this handbook is to enhance understanding of the issues for all concerned with the planning, design, construction, operation and 2.4 Design Issue Number 3 – Roadside Features 18 maintenance of London’s streets or with any schemes that affect the 2.5 Design Issue Number 4 – Traffic Calming 21 highway. It is part of TfL’s programme to cut casualties and is intended 2.6 Design Issue Number 5 – Filtering 24 to complement other guides to best practice including the Institute of Highway Engineers Guidelines for Motorcycling (IHE, 2014). 3.0 Conclusions 27 4.0 Bibliography 28 Appendices Appendix 1 – Design Checklist 29 Urban Motorcycle Design Handbook 2 1.0 Design Requirements 1.1 Introduction unique characteristics of motorcycles. 1.1.3 Riding past slow moving or stationary Engineering can improve the safety of traffic, often referred to as ‘filtering’, 1.1.1 In partnership with representatives of motorcyclists; however, the behaviour allows motorcyclists and cyclists to rider groups and the motorcycle industry, of other road users is also important to make progress in traffic queues and is a TfL has conducted extensive analysis address. significant factor in making motorcycling of techniques for reducing motorcycle the chosen option for people in London. casualties (note: the term ‘motorcycle’ 1.1.2 In London, motorcycles are mainly used In some situations, motorcyclists can in this Handbook, refers to mopeds, for commuting. Elsewhere this isn’t face hazards or barriers when attempting scooters and motorcycles).This showed the case. Designing for motorcycles in to legitimately filter and this Handbook that aspects of the highway network London must therefore consider how looks at design options for making could adversely affect motorcycle riders effectively their passage through traffic filtering safer. in some circumstances. can be made safer. 1.1.4 The function of the Handbook is to Further investigation pointed to gaps in clearly and simply explain the unique highway engineers’ understanding of the nature of London motorcycle road use, how riders use the road space differently to cars, vans, lorries, cyclists and pedestrians while travelling through the road network, and how these differences can be accommodated in highway design and maintenance work. 1.1.5 It is envisaged that this Handbook will be particularly valuable to designers and engineers who are not motorcyclists, not just in London but in other large urban areas throughout the UK. With a broader understanding of motorcycling issues, designers will be better placed to cater for motorcyclists and reduce any adverse impacts on their safety. Urban Motorcycle Design Handbook 3 1.2 Factors Influencing 1.2.1 To design and maintain a road network • A motorcycle only has two relatively small Motorcyclist’s Behaviour that meets the needs of motorcyclists, points of contact with the road surface (its practitioners need to understand and tyres). Changes in the road surface condition appreciate their specific needs. Some can have a big impact on grip and stability; of the key factors which influence a • As most braking and steering control is motorcyclist’s behaviour are: directed through the front tyre, riders try to avoid skidding and losing control by not braking and steering at the same time; • Anything that causes the tyre to lose grip can lead to a loss of control much more easily than with cars; • In bends, motorcyclists generally follow a different line to that of other motor vehicles. They use the full width of the available traffic lane in order to minimise the amount of steering input required, maximise grip and also their view of the road ahead. This may seem counter-intuitive to non-motorcyclists; • Motorcycles are very manoeuvrable. They can filter through traffic and overtake in places where other vehicles cannot. They may also appear in positions where other road users do not expect them; • Motorcycles can usually accelerate faster than other vehicles and because the rider sits higher than a car driver, they can often see over other vehicles. Urban Motorcycle Design Handbook 4 1.3 The ‘Design’ Motorcycle 1.4 London Specific Factors 1.3.1 There is a wide variety of motorcycles and make up of traffic, the presence of 1.4.1 Research into why people ride legally permitted to use UK roads. adjacent features such as kerbs or islands, motorcycles and scooters in London, These range from light weight mopeds and the experience and confidence of the (ITS. 2004), identified the following key designed primarily for commuting rider. As such there is no one ‘design’ factors: by one person, to large touring type motorcycle that should be used. The machines capable of carrying two people table below, however, outlines the key • Journey purpose and distance – a large and luggage for long distances. The characteristics for a variety of motorcycle proportion of motorcycle journeys in width of a gap likely to be accepted by sizes, and is a useful reference guide for London are for commuting, and most are motorcyclists will vary depending on the designer. Typical car dimensions are over 5km; speed, the size of the bike, the density also shown for comparison. • Convenience – door to door journey times by motorcycle are often much Safety margin +200mm 2000mm Helmet +100mm shorter in time than the same journey using other modes; • Efficiency – journey time reliability is more consistent, akin to cycling and 1000mm walking, than with most other modes of motorised transport, as motorcycles are able to filter and continue moving Total height 2190mm Total when other traffic is very slow moving or Total height 1600mm Total stationary; Safety margin height 1410mm Vehicle 375mm 375mm Seat height 890mm • Cost – a motorcycle can be considerably 100mm Vehicle width 1800mm 100mm Vehicle width 995mm cheaper to run than an average family car, and parking is often free; Motorcycle Typical Dimensions • Flexibility – motorcycles can be a useful Characteristics Motorcycle engine capacity Motorcycle engine capacity Motorcycle engine capacity option for shift workers at times when < 50cc 51cc < 250cc 250cc < 2295cc public transport isn’t available. (mopeds / scooters) (scooters / small motorcycles) (motorcycles) Length 1850mm 2240mm 2530mm Width 685mm 785mm 995mm Source: ACEM 2005 Urban Motorcycle Design Handbook 5 1.4.2 Factors that make riding a motorcycle 1.4.3 The most common paths that a road user behaviour, with riders of lower in London unique include the often motorcyclist will take when filtering powered machines often choosing to constrained carriageway widths available, through a two lane traffic queue are ride nearer to the kerb than riders of the extensive and complex network of between the two rows of queuing four larger motorcycles, making them more streets, and the requirement to share wheeled vehicles or on the offside of difficult to see for drivers emerging from the limited space available with a large those vehicles, effectively to the right side road junctions. On higher speed number of other road users, generally of the ‘outside’ traffic lane. If a design roads in London, such as those with lower speed limits and access to bus restricts these movements, either by 40mph limits, constrained lane widths lanes. Also, many other road users reducing lanes widths (e.g. by installing can have a particularly negative impact in London may expect to encounter bus or cycle lanes or creating pinch on riders of mopeds who are unable to motorcyclists filtering in traffic – this may points through the provision of central keep up with the general traffic flow. not always be the case in other towns refuges), then the motorcyclist may use 1.4.6 The role of technology may play a part in and cities. the option of travelling between the kerb the future growth of two wheeled travel, and the nearside of vehicles in lane 1, with electrically assisted pedal cycles, leading to potential conflict with cyclists, electric mopeds and motorcycles offering buses and pedestrians. a cleaner, quieter and more efficient 1.4.4 Across the UK in 2013, 33% of all means of travel, particularly over longer motorcycles registered for the first distances that many people may not time were scooters, (DfT, 2014a). The wish to cycle. There is also potential for increasing popularity of smaller size such vehicles to contribute significantly motorcycles is also reflected by the fact to reduced levels of air pollution in that eight of the top ten new motorcycle the future.