Smarter cycling, safer cycling? Acceptance of advanced cyclist assistance systems in 19 European countries
As cycling grows in popularity as a sustainable transport mode in Europe, cyclist safety has become a priority. Advanced Cyclist Assistance Systems (ACAS), inspired by Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), offer potential safety improvements but remain underexplored. This study examines ACAS acceptance among 5,991 cyclists from 19 European countries, focusing on public perceptions and adoption drivers. Participants evaluated various ACAS types-crash prevention, visibility enhancement, environmental monitoring, and post-crash assistance-based on safety, usability, and reliability. Acceptance varied across countries, with higher rates in areas with strong cycling infrastructure. Safety and reliability were universally valued, though gender differences emerged: women prioritised safety and visibility, while men favoured usability and added features. The findings highlight the importance of infrastructure, reliable technology, and awareness efforts to promote adoption. Policymakers and developers can use these insights to tailor ACAS innovations, ultimately enhancing cycling safety and supporting the broader development of smart, cyclist-focused technologies.
Authors
- Trond Nordfjærn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9436-6446)
- Предраг Брлек (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4890-2583)
- Steve O’Hern (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7961-3875)
- Jozef Gnap (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0833-7850)
- Javier Gené‐Morales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5901-5245)
- Milad Mehdizadeh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6531-5941)
- Katarzyna Gdowska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7964-3724)
- Nora Studer
- Žermēna Vazne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4361-5473)
- Dimitrios Nalmpantis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6672-4082)
- Ksenia Shubenkova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9246-6232)
- Mette Møller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0012-8691)
- Dorothea Schaffner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9174-3675)
- Sergio A. Useche (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5099-4627)
- Mihai Răzvan Niţă (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3420-2204)
- Mile Ćavar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2594-6957)
- Giuseppe Guido (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7570-4123)
- Sergio Traficante (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9163-4685)
- Katrina Volgemute (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9092-8432)
- F. Alonso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9431-8156)
Institutions
- Jagiellonian University (PL)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- University of Bucharest (RO)
- University of Mostar (BA)
- Universitat de València (ES)
- University of Zagreb (HR)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
- FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (CH)
- University of Žilina (SK)
- Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LV)
- Riga Stradiņš University (LV)
- Krakow Cardiovascular Research Institute (PL)
- University of Calabria (IT)
- AGH University of Krakow (PL)
- Technical University of Denmark (DK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Ergonomics
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2025.2588164
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Traffic and Road Safety
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.61