Overview of motorcycling in the United States: a national telephone survey

Objectives

Motorcycle registrations have risen in recent years. Although motorcyclist crash fatalities in 2009 were 16% lower than in 2008, they were double the number of deaths in 1997. The present study examined current motorcyclists’ travel patterns and views of motorcycle helmets and other safety topics.

Methods

Motorcycle drivers were interviewed in a national telephone survey conducted in 2009. A weighted sample of 1,606 motorcyclists resulted from adjusting for the oversampling of those younger than 40 and those in the three states without a motorcycle helmet use law (Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire). All analyses were based on the weighted sample, which was intended to result in a nationally representative sample of motorcyclists.

Results

About one-quarter of respondents said they did not always wear helmets. Of these respondents, 57% said a law requiring helmet use would persuade them to do so, and 27% said nothing would. Ninety-four percent of respondents in states with universal helmet laws said they always ride helmeted, compared with about half of respondents in other states. About half of all respondents favored these laws. About three-quarters said they believe helmets keep riders safer, including two-thirds of respondents who oppose universal laws and almost half of drivers who rarely/never wear helmets. Drivers ages 18–29 and drivers of sport/unclad sport, sport touring, and super sport motorcycles were more likely to always wear helmets, support universal helmet laws, and believe helmets keep riders safer. About half of respondents said antilock braking systems (ABS) enhance safety and that they would get ABS on their next motorcycle. Less than one-quarter thought an airbag would protect a motorcyclist in a crash, and even fewer would consider getting one on their next motorcycle. Forty-three percent of motorcyclists said they had crashed at least once; 62% of the most recent crashes involved no vehicles besides the motorcycle. Respondents reported riding their motorcycles about 5,400 miles, on average, during the past year. Drivers ages 18–29 reported riding fewer miles, on average, than older drivers and more often rode at night and to/from work or school. Drivers of touring and sport touring motorcycles traveled more miles and took more long trips.

Conclusions

Motorcyclists’ travel patterns and views vary widely, but there are distinct patterns by driver age and motorcycle type. Drivers who believe helmets keep riders safer are more likely to always wear them, but this belief appears insufficient to motivate some drivers to wear them. However, universal helmet laws appear effective in increasing helmet use. Many drivers are receptive to purchasing ABS on their next motorcycle.

Impact on industry

States should be encouraged to enact universal helmet laws, and motorcycle manufacturers should be encouraged to offer ABS.     

基于改进社会力模型的地铁大客流疏散能力研究*

为有效应对大客流情景下人群拥挤对地铁站正常运行带来的影响,采用社会力模型和Anylogic仿真软件,对地铁站大客流疏散能力进行建模和分析,从客观、主观、管理视角分析影响客流疏散能力的因素,基于改进社会力模型刻画行人行为,分析影响地铁车站疏散能力的3个关键因素,并以南宁地铁1号线朝阳广场站为背景进行研究。研究结果表明:行人密度是影响地铁站疏散能力的关键因素,出入口选择策略和行人亲属关系比例对疏散能力影响显著,研究结果可为地铁客流疏散提出针对性建议。     

厦门市填海造地的遥感PCA识别及其驱动机制研究

基于遥感主成分分析(PCA),论文提出一种快速、准确及经济地识别填海造地时空分布的新方法。并以厦门市港湾地区为例,将1993与1996年,1996与1998年,1998与2001年,2001与2003年、2003与2006年共6期遥感影像融合后经PCA分析得出5个时间段内填海造地的空间分布信息,并结合相应阶段的城市发展战略进行分析。选取工业总产值、人口、港口货物吞吐量等统计数据作为填海造地行为的社会经济驱动因子进行回归分析,得出政策导向、工业的快速发展以及人口的增加等是厦门港湾地区填海造地的主要驱动因素。最后提出基于驱动机制和未来情景分析的港湾地区填海造地优化调控的政策建议。     

高速铁路声屏障

提出我国高速铁路(铁路客运专线)声屏障主要结构形式和应有的性能。重点分析高速列车气动力的形成、影响因素、计算方法及其对声屏障的作用。提出了高速铁路声屏障的设计要点及其对声屏障的设计建造的建议。     

江苏盐城国家级珍禽自然保护区调整及其驱动力分析

在确定了盐城国家级珍禽自然保护区调整原则基础上,提出了该保护区的范围调整和功能区划调整方案.调整后,整个保护区范围由调整前的45.30×104 hm2减至28.42×104 hm2,核心区由调整前的1.74×104 hm2增至2.19×104 hm2,占保护区总面积的7.71%,缓冲区和实验区分别由调整前的4.67×104、38.89×104 hm2变为5.57×104、20.66×104 hm2.从自然条件改变、区域种群动态以及保护区与周边地区协调发展3个方面分析了盐城保护区调整的驱动力.     

振动法测试预应力拉杆工作内力

预应力拉杆弯曲刚度较小,其振动频率近似于绳索,故可借用绳索振动原理对拉杆轴力进行测定.以某游泳馆拱下预应力拉杆检测为例,应用振动法测试拉杆的工作内力.     

福建省龙海市土地利用空间分布影响因子的尺度效应分析

土地利用在不同的规模尺度上具有不同的特征,某个研究尺度上的影响因子可能在其它尺度上并不发生作用。论文运用统计方法与GIS技术从自然环境、社会经济以及基础设施条件各方面分析福建省龙海市土地利用空间分布影响因素及其尺度效应。综合考虑9种主要的土地利用方式和23个候选影响因子,其中土地利用数据来自2000年11∶0000土地利用详查数据,地形数据来自15∶0000DEM,而社会经济统计数据如人口分布来自以乡镇为统计单元的统计年鉴,因此必须根据其空间分布与影响因子的关系进行空间化处理。采用的基本研究单元为100m×100m,在此基础上生成200m×200m,300m×300m～2000m×2000m多个空间尺度序列数据图层。通过分别构建不同聚合规模上的土地利用空间分布驱动模型,探讨了福建省龙海市土地利用空间分布影响因子的尺度规模效应。研究表明,不仅模型的解释能力会随聚合规模发生变化,影响因子本身及其影响系数也随研究尺度发生不同程度的变化,呈现出显著的尺度依赖性规律。龙海市主要地类受坡度、海拔高程等地形条件的严格限制,而地形因素是不容易随时间发生改变的,因此自然条件优越的地区适合多种用地类型,因而将是用地矛盾的焦点。     

吉林西部土地利用/覆被时空变化驱动力分析

针对吉林两部土地利用/覆被情况,基于TM影像,借助人机交互解译方法,结合1:10万地形图获得1986年、1996年、2000年和2004年的4期土地利用/覆被变化(LUCC)矢量数据.利用土地利用动态度模型、土地利用转移矩阵.全面揭示研究区15年的LUCC时空变化特征,结果表明.盐碱地扩张,湿地、水域萎缩和草地退化已经成为吉林西部生态环境恶化的突出表现.结合研究区的实际情况选取总人口数、农业人口数、粮食总产置等12个指标作为LUCC:变化的丰十会经济驱动因子,借助多元线性回归模型,建立主要土地利用类型的驱动力模型.结果表明吉林西部土地利用变化的最主要社会经济因子是农业人口数、农民人均纯收入、农业生产技术(农业机械总动力、化肥施用量)和农村用电量,同时提出相应的生态环境保护和社会经济措施.     

Effects of ladder parameters on asymmetric patterns of force exertion during below-knee amputees climbing ladders

Different from walking, ladder climbing requires four-limb coordination and more energy exertion for below-knee amputees (BKAs). We hypothesized that functional deficiency of a disabled limb shall be compensated by the other three intact limbs, showing an asymmetry pattern among limbs. Hand and foot forces of six below-knee amputees and six able-bodied people were collected. Hand, foot and hand/foot sum force variances between groups (non-BKA, intact side and prosthetic side) were carefully examined. Our hypothesis was validated that there is asymmetry between prosthetic and intact side. Results further showed that the ipsilateral hand of the prosthetic leg is stronger than the hand on the intact side, compensating weakness of the prosthetic leg. Effects of ladder rung separations and ladder slant on asymmetric force distribution of BKAs were evaluated, indicating that rung separation has a more significant interactive effect on hand/foot force of BKAs than ladder slant.     

区域土地利用变化的物质代谢响应初步研究

文章在描述相关研究进展的基础上,认为在物质资源不断减少的情形下,物质代谢效率提高对于人类社会发展具有更为重要的意义。并在此基础上,分析了土地利用方式、土地利用强度、土地利用布局等土地利用变化过程对于物质代谢变化的影响机理。以江苏省为例进行实证分析,构建区域土地利用变化的物质代谢驱动力模型。结果表明,随着1989年以来江苏省土地利用强度的不断提高,物质代谢通量快速增长。土地利用强度越高,物质代谢通量值越大,土地利用强度提高10%,则物质代谢通量将提高5.62%,因此,资源利用量与污染物排放量越多,带来的环境冲击也就越大;但土地利用强度越高,物质代谢效率值就越小,土地利用强度每提高10%,物质代谢效率就提高5.03%,因而单位GD P的资源利用量与污染物排放量也就越少。虽然物质代谢效率在提高,但是物质资源日益稀缺,物质代谢效率需进一步提升。最后提出了区域土地利用变化物质代谢效应响应的研究方向。