Transportation engineers and planners can now review whether their road plans meet the rapidly growing demands that cyclists are placing on infrastructure for bikes, e-bikes, cargo bikes, and bike-share systems. AutoTURN Pro, developed by Transoft Solutions, is the industry-leading CAD solution for analyzing swept paths and 3D envelopes. As the only software in the market that performs bicycle simulation, it offers engineers a wide variety of bicycles to visualize non-motorized movements, optimize infrastructure design, and improve safety in traffic environments.
Why cycle simulation matters
As cities grow in population and density, transportation networks face an increasingly complex set of challenges. Today’s transportation engineers and planners are looking for safer and more sustainable ways to manage the larger volumes of people, vehicles, and goods moving through cities. Cyclists are a growing part of that equation, and they need infrastructure designed specifically for them.
Engineers have consistently relied on AutoTURN when designing transportation projects. Its accuracy, dependability, and user-friendly design have made AutoTURN the go-to tool for swept path analysis for new development projects, rehabilitation schemes, and temporary traffic management plans.
“As a city we see a growing claim on public space for bicycles and also a bigger diversity in types of bicycles. That means we must cope with more diversity in designing the city’s infrastructure. AutoTURN Pro’s cycle simulation can help us getting this job done.”
-Jan van den Driessche, Traffic Engineer, City of Rotterdam, NL
What AutoTURN Pro models
Motor vehicles and cyclists sharing space
AutoTURN Pro lets engineers, planners, and designers verify whether motorized vehicle traffic can safely turn without impeding cyclists, while also accounting for the unique turning requirements of bikes in on-street and off-street designs.
Bicycle-specific behavior
Unlike cars and commercial vehicles, conventional bikes and other cycle types demonstrate different turning movement and behavior patterns. AutoTURN Pro automatically models the way in which they act with key parameters, such as the lean angle and friction coefficient.
A range of bicycle types
AutoTURN Pro supports 13 cycle types, such as standard bicycles (i.e., based on dimensions specified in the region’s bicycle design guidelines), and a variety of manufacturer-based bicycles modelled to specification. Supported configurations include standard bicycles, bicycles with front cargo or back trailers, front cargo trikes, and more.
Figure 1: Examples of supported cycle configurations in AutoTURN Pro.
How the bicycle simulation was developed
When developing the bicycle simulation and analysis features, Transoft consulted existing design guidelines and conducted field tests to calibrate algorithms that replicate bicycle behaviors.
Field testing with real cyclists
The field tests[1], consisted of having volunteer cyclists follow marked paths of 90-degree turns with 5- and 10-metre turning radii with multiple types of bicycles. For each ride, speed and lean angle data were collected. These tests have been invaluable in helping define vital parameters, such as the maximum lean angle (i.e., maximum capacity for bicycle to lean when turning a corner) and transition duration (i.e., the time it takes to steer in from a straight line path to a steady state turn).
[1] Conducted by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans), a UK-based charity for sustainable transport.
Figure 2: Schematic arrangement of the field tests carried out and an example of a bicycle and its lean angle.
Watch how AutoTURN Pro allows you to design a safe and inclusive bicycle-friendly infrastructure:
Dynamic space modelling
AutoTURN Pro accommodates the space required for bikes dynamically, providing engineers and planners with reliable simulation results that account for speed and turning transitions.
Figure 3: Simulations performed in AutoTURN Pro using a cargo cycle and a bicycle.
Bicycle turning templates
In addition to its simulation capabilities, AutoTURN Pro includes bicycle turning templates. These let engineers and planners compare the turning behavior of different bicycle types and analyze the clearances required at varying speeds, transition times, and maximum lean angles.
Figure 4: Bicycle Turning Template examples available in AutoTURN Pro
See it for yourself
Bicycle infrastructure is expected to only get more complex from here. There will be more bike types, more mixed-use streets, and more pressure to get the road design right before anything gets built.
The best way to understand what AutoTURN Pro’s bicycle simulation can do is to apply it on your projects. Download a free trial today, test it against a design you’re already working on, and see the difference yourself!