title: The effects of co-presence on risk perception and intention to engage in risky behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated the relation between co-presence and bicyclists' riding behavior. We assumed that the presence of peer riders would either facilitate or inhibit risky behaviors depending on bicyclists' perceptions of three traffic contexts conducive to risk taking (i.e., red-light, go straight, and turn to left).
  
  
  METHODS
  Young bicyclists (N=207) were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions (alone vs. with peers). They filled in a scenario-based questionnaire about their intentions to adopt risky behaviors in three specific traffic situations as well as their risk perception of these situations and their general self-perceived efficacy as a bicyclist. We hypothesized that the presence of peer riders engaged in a risky behavior will facilitate the intention to adopt risky behaviors in situations where group risk is evaluated as lower than individual risk. In opposition, the presence of peer riders engaged in a risky behavior will inhibit the intention to adopt risky behaviors in situations where group risk is evaluated as higher than individual risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results confirmed the hypotheses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings offer insights for developing new effective education and intervention programs in order to reduce the frequency of dangerous behavior among bicyclists.
authors.affiliation: French Institute of Science and Technology for Transportation, Development and Networks (IFSTTAR), Department of Planning, Mobilities, and Environment, Mobility and Behaviour Psychology Lab, France. Electronic address: mioara.cristea@univ-rennes2.fr.
authors.forename: Mioara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cristea
authors.affiliation: French Institute of Science and Technology for Transportation, Development and Networks (IFSTTAR), Department of Planning, Mobilities, and Environment, Mobility and Behaviour Psychology Lab, France.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delhomme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000523:psychology*; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bicyclists; Co-presence; Risk perception; Risk taking; Social facilitation