Effect of Pavement Grooving on Motorcycle Rideability. Interim Report

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Effect of Pavement Grooving on Motorcycle Rideability. Interim Report

G. B. Sherman / J. B. Skog / M. H. Johnson

A study was conducted to determine if the safety of the motorcyclist was impaired by pavement grooving and which pattern of those tested resulted in the least sensation to the cyclist. The six pavement grooving patterns most frequently considered for use on California highways were cut longitudinally into a relinquished PCC section of the State Highway System. Seven motorcycles, ranging from one of the smallest legally allowed on California freeways to one of the largest used, were made available for evaluating these patterns. The evaluation was made by two experienced motorcyclists. The pavement grooving patterns as tested in this study did not present a hazardous riding condition to the motorcyclists. In general the lighter machines were more sensitive to the grooving patterns; however, none had a sensitivity level sufficient to cause a control problem. No individual grooving pattern was considered to be consistently superior, from a motorcycle rideability standpoint.