A Mountain-Bike-to-Hiker Warning System (MBHWS)

This paper presents a novel application for V2X communication, namely a Mountain-Bike-to-Hiker Warning System (or short MBHWS) which should ease the ongoing conflict between hikers and mountain bikers in many alpine regions where both use shared trails. Fast approaching and overtaking bikers can scare hikers, especially when the latter do not recognize the bikers early enough, and in consequence conflict-ridden or dangerous situations regularly occur in mountains. Building on recent technology advances and inspired by recent works on Vulnerable-Road-User protection, we analyze the MBHWS use-case and its requirements, derive and implement a system design to show the general feasibility, conduct technical tests of the system prototype in a realistic outdoor environment in the Italian Alps, and also perform a user-study to analyze user acceptance and preferences. We conclude that a MBHWS is technically feasible based on widely available consumer-grade equipment and our user study gives indications about high user-demand and preferences of different user groups.