ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING APPROPRIATE BICYCLE LANE DESIGN ON HIGHWAYS FOR TOURISM USING THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS: A CASE STUDY OF HIGHWAY NO. 1004 (DOI SUTHEP, CHIANG MAI)

Abstract

This study assesses factors influencing bicycle lane design on Highway No. 1004 along the route to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai Province, a mountainous highway with physical and traffic constraints. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize factors based on relevant standards, previous studies, and site conditions, with evaluations from five experts. The results showed that overall safety had the highest weight (0.326), followed by intersections and crossing points (0.239), route physical characteristics (0.140), traffic characteristics (0.133), environmental conditions (0.100), and accessibility and usage (0.062). Key sub-factors included vehicle speed, bicycle crossings, lane width and continuity, pavement quality, sight distance, and traffic volume. The findings suggest that bicycle lane design on mountainous highways should adopt a systematic approach incorporating speed control, conflict reduction, facility continuity, appropriate separation, visibility, pavement quality, and emergency response. The results provide preliminary guidance for bicycle facility planning and design in mountainous areas. Further studies should include other locations and direct data from cyclists.

Keywords: AHP, Bicycle Lane, Mountainous Highway, Highway No. 1004, Doi Suthep, Road Safety