Showing the way: Baseline report for a new bicycle wayfinding concept in Oslo and Viken

Bicycle guidance has mainly been based on signage principles for motorists, however, there is currently little knowledge of cyclist's needs with regard to wayfinding, and little is known about how the current wayfinding system works. In the fall of 2019, we conducted a roadside survey among cyclists in Oslo (n = 99) and "commentary cycling" sessions on selected bicycle routes in Oslo (n = 10). The results show that although many people use a smartphone to plan the route in advance, few want to stop to check the phone on the go. The fact that cyclists navigate in speed is thus an important prerequisite that provides guidelines for how to sign. For cyclists signage to work well, signs and the font size should be large enough, Moreover, the background color should preferably be a strong or fluorescent color. The signs should be placed consistently, and they should include destination points that are considered relevant. Signage can in some cases be supplemented by road markings, as long as it does not introduce too many visual points that exceed the cyclists attentional capacity (eg. in complex traffic environments). Road markings may not replace signage, but if properly used, it can work well as a supplement. Finding optimal solutions will require more research.