At the annual meeting of Danish Cyclist Federation (DCF) in October 2009 a questionnaire was distributed among all delegates, approx. 100 persons, in agreement with DCF.
In the introduction to the questionnaire comprised a brief description of EMS vehicles, including the test with EMS vehicles. The entire questionnaire in its original form can be found at the end of the present appendix.
Response
73 persons responded to the questionnaire and the superior part (62 %) comes from Region Hovedstaden (the Capital Region) and Region Sjælland (Region Sealand).
With regard to the responses there are problems with questions 2, 4 and 5. To question 2 six respondents replied that they had met an EMS vehicle in the traffic as a cyclist, while to question 4 fifteen respondents expresses themselves about how the meeting was compared to meeting an ordinary road train. This means that nine respondents, who at first indicated that they had not met an EMS vehicle in the traffic as cyclists express their opinions about whether this meeting was difference from meting an ordinary road train. In the same way, to question 5, nine respondents have expressed how they experienced the meeting was different from meeting ordinary road trains.
Summary of replies
1) Apart from the above, what do you know about EMS vehicles?
57 % of the respondents have no or very little knowledge about EMS vehi- cles apart from what is standing in the introduction to the questionnaire, other 5% have seen or read about the vehicles in the media. Approx. 10 % find that EMS vehicles require changes of parts of the road network, such as roundabouts, which may result in a reduction of the traffic safety for cyclists. 2) Have you met EMS vehicles in the traffic as a cyclist? If yes, on what road section was that?
Only 8 % of the respondents have met an EMS vehicle as a cyclist in the traffic, while 89 % respond now to this.
3) Do you generally feel insecure when meeting a road train (yes/no)? 60 % of the respondents feel insecure when meeting road trains, while 19 % do not have this experience. In this connection several respondents express that it depends on where they meet road trains. For example whether there is a cycle track.
4) If you meet an EMS vehicle: Is this experience different from meeting or- dinary road trains (yes / no)?
* Out of the 15 respondents having replied to, whether meeting with the EMS vehicle was different from meeting ordinary road trains, 7 finds (approx. 47 %) that the meeting was different, while 8 (approx. 53%) find that there is no difference
5) If yes, how did you find the meeting was different?
* 9 respondents responded to how the meeting with the EMS vehicle was dif- ferent and their replies are within the areas surprising, larger air pressure and the considerable size of the EMS vehicles.
6) Do you find that EMS vehicles are more dangerous for cyclists than other road trains (yes/no)?
78 % of the respondents find that EMS vehicles are more dangerous for cy- clists than other road trains, while 11 % find that they are not more danger- ous than other road trains.
7) If yes, what do you base this statement on?
36 % of the respondents find that it is the size (length and width) of the vehi- cles that makes them more dangerous, while 16 % find that they are more dangerous because the driver’s possibilities of orienting himself is poorer and 14 % find that EMS vehicles are more dangerous because they give more turbulence when passing.
9) Which measures in relation to road trains would increase your feeling of safety?
There are more suggestions as to how the feeling of safety can be increased for the cyclists, e.g. 25 % find that separate cycle tracks could help and 16 % find that it is important to ensure that EMS vehicles are only driving on cer- tain roads (primarily the motorway network).
10) Do you think that EMS vehicles can be an environmental gain due to their ability to handle larger quantities of goods (yes / no)?
49 % of the respondents find that there is no environmental gain from EMS vehicles, while 29 % find that there may be an environmental gain.
11) Do you think that there is a need for more information to cyclists about EMS vehicles and their spread in order to ensure a safety level for soft road- users (Yes/ no)?
67 % find that there is a larger need for information to cyclists about EMS vehicles, while 21 % do not agree to this
Selected quotes
- ”that public funds have been applied for changing road crossings and roundabouts in consideration for EMS vehicles”
- ”very little, but they are large and more dangerous”
- ”Many national politicians are interested in introducing EMS vehicles” - ”that Falster will be influenced by this. Large changes (costs) cross-
ings and roundabouts so that other motorists can drive too fast in city centres to reach Gedser. (In Germany EMS vehicles are not al- lowed)”
- ”that the risk of getting sucked under a train/vehicle is higher” - ”They require road extensions in crossings and thus higher speed”
- ”in case of side wind the effect on the cycle track becomes larger as it takes longer before the road train has passed.”
- ”When passing by, a longer road train generates a higher risk of swaying and fall for the cyclist”
- ”Yes, longer, larger and more obstructed view for the driver” - ”longer brake length, obstructed view”
- ”length, volume (air pressure), survey for driver, rear wheel cuts cor- ner, turning time”
- ”The EMS vehicle itself is not dangerous, but cut backs in speed damping measures are dangerous”
- ”that they are forbidden totally together with soft road-users” - ”That they only drive on motorways + express roads or other roads
without cycle tracks”
- ”Lower actual speed, more focus on driver behaviour” - ”forbid them”
- ”Marking of the roads, where they are allowed to drive through signs”
Focus group interview
14 of the respondents have indicated that they would like to take part in a fo- cus group interview at a later time
Where did the cyclists meet EMS vehicles? - Horsensvej in Vejle (once)
- Marselis Boulevard - In city traffic in Aarhus
- Thomas B. Thrige, Svendborgvej 83, Odense - Ferry berth in Kalundborg
- On main road (respondent lives in CBH NV)
Distribution of replies to the individual questions (see questions below in the appendix):
1) What do you know apart from the above-mentioned about EMS vehicles?
No reply 13 18 %
Nothing 33 45 %
Very little 9 12 %
Have read and heard about it
in the media 4 5 %
Other 14 19 %
73 100 %
2) Have you met EMS vehicles in the traffic as a cyclist? If yes, on which road section?
No reply 2 3 %
Yes 6 8 %
No 65 89 %
73 100 %
3) Do you feel generally insecure when meeting road trains (yes / no)?
No reply 8 11 %
Yes 44 60 %
No 14 19 %
Other 7 10 %
73 100 %
4) If you have met an EMS vehicle: Is this experience different from meeting ordinary road trains (yes / no)?
No reply 56 77 %
Yes 7 10 %
No 8 11 %
Other 2 3 %
73 100 %
5) If yes, how did you experience that this meeting was different?
No reply 63 86 %
Wind pressure 2 3 %
Surprise 2 3 %
Other 6 8 %
73 100 %
6) Do you find that EMS vehicles are more dangerous for cyclist than other road trains (yes / no)?
No reply 3 4 % Yes 57 78 % No 8 11 % Do not know 3 4 % Other 2 3 % 73 100 %
7) If yes, on what do you base this statement?
No reply 17 23 %
Length 16 22 %
Weight 2 3 %
Size in general 8 11 %
Driver’s possibility to orientate
himself 12 16 %
Air pressure 10 14 %
Other 8 11 %
73 100 %
8) If no, why not?
No reply 65 89 %
Not different from other trucks 6 8 %
Other 2 3 %
73 100 %
9) Which other measures in relation to road trains would increase your feel- ing of safety? No reply 22 30 % Separation/cycle track 18 25 % Forbid them 4 5 % Only on motorway/certain roads 12 16 % Do not know 2 3 %
Other 15 21 %
73 100 %
10) Do you think that EMS vehicles can be an environmental gain due to their ability to handle larger quantities of goods (yes / no)?
No reply 8 11 % Yes 21 29 % No 36 49 % Do not know 3 4 % Other 5 7 % 73 100 %
11) Do you think that there is a need for more information to cyclists about EMS vehicles and their spread in order to ensure that safety level for soft road-users (yes/ no)?
No reply 6 8 %
Yes 49 67 %
No 15 21 %
Other 3 4 %
73 100 %
12) Which town and postal code do you live in?
No reply 3 4 % 0-0999 0 % 1-1999 0 % 2-2999 34 47 % 3-3999 3 4 % 4-4999 8 11 % 5-5999 1 1 % 6-6999 2 3 % 7-7999 11 15 % 8-8999 10 14 % 9- 1 1 % 73 100 %
QUESTIONNAIRE DISTRIBUTED AT DANISH CYCLIST FEDERATION’S NATIONAL