Cyclists' Perception of Automated Shuttle Buses in Shared Spaces

Franziska Babel, Sam Thellman, Tom Ziemke

Abstract: As automated shuttle buses gradually become a part of urban traffic solutions, their interactions with vulnerable road users need careful consideration. However, the cyclists’ perspectives on autonomous shuttle buses have not been explored extensively. This research addresses this gap by surveying 50 cyclists who regularly encounter automated shuttle buses. The results show that, in general, cyclists exhibit a high level of trust in the safety of the buses. Nevertheless, approximately one-third of the cyclists expressed disapproval as the buses tend to drive on the bicycle lane, leading them to wish for infrastructural solutions to avoid forcing cyclists to divert to pedestrian walkways. Identifying potential conflicts like these is vital for the development of effective and acceptable human-agent interactions in road traffic environments.