OBJECTIVES : The objective of this study is to propose a capacity analysis methodology for riverside bike-exclusive roads. METHODS: Three steps were performed to develop a methodology to estimate bikeway capacity. First, we reviewed previous studies on the vehicle-road capacity analysis and proposed their applicability to bikeways. Second, two assumptions were made based on the traffic flow characteristics of bikeways: (1) the capacitated state in bikeways occur within a bicycle platoon, and (2) a bicycle platoon consists of more than three bicycles running in close proximity. In addition, it is assumed that the mean time headway of a bicycle platoon represents the characteristics of the platoon. The normality of the mean-time headway of a bicycle platoon calculated using the central limit theorem leads to the development of a method that estimates the riverside bikeway capacity using data collected from two different riverside bike-exclusive roads (Han-river and Anyangcheon). We used a location-fixed video camera to record videos of running bicycles and wrote a special-purpose software program to code the time-headway data from the videos. RESULTS : Time headways from 189 bicycle platoons were analyzed. The estimated mean-time headway of the capacitated bicycle flow is 1.01 s, from which the capacity of the bikeway is found to be 3578 vehicles/h. CONCLUSIONS : The proposed method that estimates bikeway capacity could be applicable to the analysis of short-range congested area rather than planning the number of lanes. In other words, it determines the sections that are temporarily highly congested and proposes appropriate strategies to mitigate the congestion.

PURPOSES: This study analyzed the lane-by-lane traffic flow characteristics in Korea by using real-world data, including congestion levels, for 2-, 3-, and 4-lane freeways. METHODS : On the basis of a literature review, lane flow and speed characteristics were analyzed using flow measurements and speed ratios. In addition, the effect of congestion levels on traffic flow were visualized using rescaled cumulative plots. RESULTS: Driver behavior varied depending on the congestion level. During free-flow conditions, the lane-use ratio of individual lanes varied largely, whereas during congestion, the ratio was nearly the same for all lanes (i.e., equilibrium). During maximum-flow and congestion conditions, the median lane was used more than the shoulder lane, whereas during all other conditions, the shoulder lane had a higher lane-use ratio. In 3- or 4-lane freeways, the lane-use ratio of the median lane always exceeded 1 and was the highest during free-flow conditions. CONCLUSIONS : The results of the present analysis can be used as an index to predict congestion before a lane is overcapacitated. Moreover, the results can be applied in variable lane guidance systems, such as car navigation systems and variable message displays, to control traffic flow.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology to prioritize sidewalk construction on rural national highways. METHODS : In order to determine an appropriate prioritization for sidewalk construction, we developed a specific methodology. The proposed methodology includes three main steps: 1) Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods, 2) Subjective evaluation of relevant road agencies for the candidate sidewalks along rural national highways, and 3) Field study conduction. Each step has four phases. The primary feature of this methodology is the addition of expert consultation and survey data, as well as a field study. In addition, the method could guarantee flexibility in selection for evaluation criteria. As a result, the proposed methodology could be used as a general procedure for application to other roadway classifications when considering sidewalk construction. RESULTS: In order to demonstrate the reasonableness of the proposed methodology, a case study was performed for exactly 100 candidate sites for sidewalk construction on rural national highways. All required evaluation scores were properly produced for each candidate site. By doing so, decision-makers can determine the priority for sidewalk construction at these sites by reviewing quantitatively and qualitatively considered data. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the case study can be applied to a long-term fundamental plan for sidewalk construction on rural national highways. Furthermore, this methodology could be employed to prioritize a small-scale SOC project(e. g. bicycle or pedestrian roads).

PURPOSES : The objective of this study is to investigate the capability of the combined model of traffic simulation, emission and air dispersion models on the impact analysis of air quality of mobile sources such as vehicles. METHODS : The improvement of the quality of life brings about the increasing interest of the public environment. Many endeavors including the travel demand management, the application of the state-of-the-art ITS technologies, the promotion of eco-friendly vehicles have been tried in transportation area to reduce the modal emissions. Especially, it is expected that the increasing number of eco-friendly vehicles in the road network would be able to reduce the pipe-tail emissions tremendously. From this perspective, we have performed a study on the impact analysis of the popularization of the eco-friendly vehicle in the place of the fossil fuel energy powered vehicles on the surrounding air quality using the combined framework of microscopic traffic simulation, emission and air dispersion model. RESULTS : The combined model successfully captured the effect of moving to the eco-friendly vehicles on the air quality, and the results showed that the increasing usage of eco-friendly vehicles can improve the surrounding air quality tremendously and that the air dispersion model plays a crucial role in the investigation of the air quality change around the main corridor. CONCLUSIONS : This study demonstrated the capability of the combined model showing the spatio-tempral change of emission concentration.