SESPIN – Safe and Efficient S-Pedelec Infrastructure

A clear trend toward electrification can be observed in the bicycle sector, with the number of S-Pedelecs sold also increasing. On the one hand, S-Pedelecs offer not only health benefits but also the potential for more climate-friendly mobility. On the other hand, the higher speeds of S-Pedelecs compared to conventional bicycles and pedelecs create the potential for conflict with other road users, which in turn presents new challenges regarding their integration into the (cycling) infrastructure.

Planning for cycle superhighways or shared space concepts would be conceivable, but so far there are hardly any regulations for this. In general, research data regarding S-Pedelecs and the effect of infrastructure measures on use, acceptance, and road safety is limited.

The focus of the study is therefore to identify infrastructural or techno-social solutions for the efficient and safe integration of S-Pedelec riders into the general transport system, with particular attention being paid to interaction with other road users in order to generate recommendations for action that are accepted not only by S-Pedelec riders but also by the various road users and lead to increased road safety for all.

This will be achieved through a combination of different methods, with particular emphasis on the holistic participation of all decision-makers and relevant users at different points in the study:

• Using secondary material analysis, the aim is to collect, examine and systematically classify existing studies, concepts and solutions for efficient and safe S-Pedelec cycling infrastructure.
• Using focus groups and surveys, the acceptance of legal regulations regarding S-Pedelecs will be investigated and the preference structure in the choice of cycling facilities will be analyzed.
• Based on this, an application-oriented catalogue of measures and targeted recommendations for action for the selection, dimensioning and design of cycling infrastructure for S-Pedelecs in the D-A-CH region will be developed, which will be evaluated by experts in a validation workshop.
• Selected recommendations for action will be experimentally validated on practical cycle path examples in an innovative S-Pedelec bicycle simulator, tailored to the target group. This will ultimately lead to the development of an empirically supported catalogue of measures. The S-Pedelec catalogue of measures will then be comprehensively disseminated.

The bicycle simulation uses an innovative approach that allows for the targeted implementation of cycling infrastructure based on selected criteria and variations based on selected factors. The comprehensive participation of all stakeholders, affected parties, and users is also a central concern of the project. The project’s ongoing involvement of experts and the cycling community is intended to ensure that suitable solutions for S-Pedelecs are found across national borders that do not come at the expense of other road users.

Salzburg Research is responsible for the innovation environment analysis (identification of existing legal, technical, and organizational guidelines), as well as the identification of international best practices and conducting the expert interviews. We are also responsible for the inclusive and target-group-specific dissemination and visualization of the study results.