Abstract Manager

The Trans Canada Trail (Trail) is a cross-Canada network of greenways, waterways and roadways consisting of more than 29,000 kilometres (km) of multi-use trails, making it the world’s longest network of recreational trails. Trans Canada Trail (TCT) is a not-for-profit organization that works with corporate and individual donors, partners, government and volunteers to raise funds to develop this Trail system. TCT aims to enhance the Trail by making it safer and more accessible for its users. The need for a comprehensive and robust network screening exercise of the Trail system was recognized to identify critical locations, particularly sections of the Trail that are shared with the public roadway through a bicycle accessible shoulder.

A risk-based methodology was developed through extensive literature review and primarily incorporates principles described in the Canadian Road Safety Audit Guide (Transportation Association of Canada, 2001). This methodology permits a macro level identification of high-risk road segments along the Trail using data available to TCT. The methodology includes the calculation of a relative risk score for each segment based on the probability, exposure and consequence. The input parameters to this methodology includes the provision of bicycle facility type to estimate the probability of occurrence, the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of the shared roadway to estimate the exposure, and the posted speed limit to estimate the consequence of potential crashes. Adjustment factors based on the shoulder type and intersection density were also incorporated in the calculation of the risk score. Finally, ranges of the risk score were identified to categorize each Trail segment into six risk levels ranging from “Highest Risk” to “Lowest Risk”.

The precise implementation of the risk-based methodology was conducted through coding of the input parameters and equations into the Geographical Information System (GIS) software. A thorough calibration and validation process was conducted to refine the methodology to ensure practical use and to verify if the risk level identified was consistent with findings from other tools. A nation-wide ranking of sections of the Trail system was developed allowing TCT to target priority sections for studies, future active transportation and safety development/construction works and to make informed decisions on funding projects. The resulting risk-based methodology is applicable to provide a Safe System Approach to the evaluation of safety performance of cycling facilities.