Exploration of Riding Behaviors of Food Delivery Riders: A Naturalistic Cycling Study in Changsha, China

Abstract

Aimed at the riding safety issue of food delivery riders in China who mainly travel by electric bikes, a naturalistic cycling study was conducted by collecting the naturalistic cycling data of dozens of food delivery riders in Changsha, China, to identify their riding characteristics. It was found that the participating food delivery riders are mainly undereducated young male adults, and the primary reason for them to take the job is the flexible working hours. Furthermore, they frequently work overtime and admit to often committing risky riding behaviors to deliver food on time. The analysis of their riding trajectories indicates that they delivered orders all day long, rather than just at mealtimes. They mainly work within 3 km of the delivery station, and the average riding radius was 2.39 km. Male riders, riders working less than one year, and riders with high school education had a relatively fast riding speed. These findings provide valuable new insights for agencies to understand the riding characteristics of food delivery riders and to formulate the appropriate countermeasures to improve their occupational safety.