A Sensor-Based and GIS-Linked Analysis of Road Characteristics Influencing Lateral Passing Distance Between Motor Vehicles and Bicycles in Austria

Abstract

Lateral passing distance (LPD) when motor vehicles overtake cyclists is a key safety metric, yet infrastructure-aware evidence remains limited. This study analyses 11,399 overtaking measurements from Austria’s OpenBikeSensor (OBS) project, spatially linked to the national road graph (GIP), with urban and rural networks examined separately. LPD was treated as a continuous dependent variable, and bivariate relationships were tested using nonparametric methods: Spearman’s rho/Kendall’s tau for metric predictors (speed limit, lane width, number of lanes) and Kruskal–Wallis tests with Dunn–Holm post hoc adjustments for categorical factors (Functional Road Class, Road Configuration, Infrastructure Type). Effect sizes and confidence intervals supported substantive interpretation. LPD was higher in rural than urban contexts, with compliance to Austria’s 2023 legal thresholds averaging 40% in cities (≥1.5 m) and 19% in rural areas (≥2.0 m). Positive correlations were found between LPD and lane width, speed limit, and functional class. The findings highlight infrastructure-sensitive patterns in sensor-generated LPD and emphasise the importance of clear cyclist allocation or physical separation, especially where high speeds or spatial constraints increase close-passing risk.