Edinburgh Napier University

  The management of pavement surfaces for walking and cycling is currently a labour intensive task and relies upon user reporting defects and direct visual inspection. Local authorities are being pressed to cut budgets and reduce annual expenditure. Therefore, pavement surfaces associated with walking and cycling are seldom considered to be a priority infrastructure investment. Cycling infrastructure and, in particular, a well maintained pavement surface contributes to a safe and comfortable ride. However, defective pavement surfaces and insufficient maintenance can expose cyclists to excessive hand-arm vibration. Regular exposure to vibration transmitted from work processes is well documented, regulated and controlled in construction and civil engineering industries. However, limited data is available regarding commuter and recreational cyclists’ exposure to hand-arm vibration.