Salzburg Research worked with partners to develop scientifically sound solutions for the safe and efficient integration of speed pedelecs (S-pedelecs) into existing transportation infrastructures. The final report offers concrete recommendations for the design of transportation infrastructure in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

With a maximum speed of up to 45 km/h, S-Pedelecs are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative means of transportation for everyday journeys, especially for commuting. Conflicts arise due to different speeds among S-pedelecs, cyclists, and pedestrians. Riding in mixed traffic increases the risk of accidents.

Measures for integrating S-Pedelecs in existing transportation infrastructures

Measures have thus been developed to safely and efficiently integrate S-pedelecs into the transport system and to promote their acceptance by other road users. For this purpose, existing legal, planning, and technical framework conditions were analyzed and expanded through interviews with experts and international examples of good practice.

The perspectives of various road users were surveyed in focus groups and through extensive acceptance analyzes using a bike simulator. The acceptance of S-Pedelecs by other road users depends heavily on the infrastructure and the legal framework.

A clear demarcation and adaptation of usage opportunities on cycle paths and in mixed traffic are crucial. The study shows that targeted public awareness and the promotion of safety measures have a positive effect on the subjective perception of safety.

The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV, Germany), Federal Ministry for Climate Protection (BMK, Austria), and Federal Roads Office (ASTRA, Switzerland).