Gaze behavior during urban cycling: Effects of subjective risk perception and vista space properties

• Published in: Transportation research. Part F, Traffic psychology and behaviour Traffic psychology and behaviour, 2020-11, Vol.75, p.222-238
• Main Author: von Stülpnagel, Rul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior; Bicycling; Cycles; Eye movements; Fixation; Gaze angles; Gaze behavior; Isovist analysis; Mobile eye tracking; Real-world cycling; Risk assessment; Risk perception; Sight vectors; Studies; Subjective risk perception; Tracking systems
• ISSN: 1369-8478; 1873-5517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2020.10.007

•We investigated participants’ gaze behavior in a real-world setting.•Next to fixation duration, we measured sight vector length and gaze angle.•We linked these measures to subjective risk perception and isovist parameters.•We found strong effects of spatial complexity on risk perception and gaze behavior. In this research, we investigate how gaze behavior during urban cycling is affected by subjective risk perception and the local spatial configuration. For this purpose, participants cycled at five defined test locations while wearing a mobile eye tracking system. Next to the fixation duration, we extracted sight vector lengths (i.e., the distance between the current body location and the gaze location) and gaze angles (i.e., the degree to which the gaze deviates from the current travel direction). Concerning risk perception, participants provided a hazard estimate for each test location, as well as information about specific areas they experienced as dangerous. This information was aggregated into a local hazard level across all participants. Finally, the vista space (i.e., the space visible from the current position during a fixation) was quantified via isovist analysis. The results imply that spatially open locations, extending about equally into all directions, increase the level of perceived risk. Depending on the local spatial properties, participants also gaze into different directions, rather than further ahead and into their travel direction. Higher cycling experience and greater familiarity with a location enabled a more foresighted and focused gaze behavior. Our findings underline the importance to provide cyclists not only with enough space and with unobstructed views, but also to limit the space they are required to distribute their attention to.