Analysis of Heart Rate Variability Amongst Cyclists Under Perceived Variations of Risk Exposure

Authors

Ronan Doorley, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Vikram Pakrashi, Dynamical Systems and Risk Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland
Eoin Byrne, Dynamical Systems and Risk Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland; NIMBUS Research Centre, Bishopstown, Co. Cork, IrelandFollow
Samuel Comerford, Dynamical Systems and Risk Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland
Bidisha Ghosh, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
John A. Groeger, Department of Psychology, University of Hull, United Kingdom

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3662-9164

Document Type

Article

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Engineering | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Publication Details

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior, vol. 28. This is the authors version of a work that was accepted to Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior, vol. 28, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2014.11.004

Abstract

Cycling as a mode of travel provides an opportunity for many people to increase their levels of regular physical activity and contribute to their mental and physical health. Heart rate is often used as a means of measuring the intensity and energy expenditure of physical activity. However, heart rate is also linked to emotional factors such as anxiety and fear. Perceptions of risk due to external factors such as other road users and infrastructure may arouse such emotions in urban cyclists. The present study set out to investigate whether or not perceptions of risk among urban cyclists may lead to increased heart rates. Cyclists completed a test route in normal traffic conditions in Cork, Ireland and heart rates and self-reported risk ratings were recorded in real time. Evidence was found of a link between perceptions of risk and heart rates. This raises questions regarding the use of heart rate to estimate exercise intensity and energy expenditure during urban cycling. The perceptions of cyclists of their safety in relation to various road elements on familiar routes were also assessed, as well as specific events which they perceive to be high in risk. The results indicate that incidents involving car traffic and busy roads which offer no protection from interaction with car traffic are associated with greatest perceptions of risk.

Recommended Citation

Ronan Doorley, Vikram Pakrashi, Eoin Byrne, Samuel Comerford, Bidisha Ghosh, John A. Groeger. Analysis of heart rate variability amongst cyclists under perceived variations of risk exposure. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, vol. 28, 2015, pp 40-54, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2014.11.004.