National Virtual Reality Day: UCD team uses VR to improve campus cycling paths

To celebrate National Virtual Reality Day 2025 (November 22), we spoke to Dr Saptarshi Sen about his new project, funded by UCD Sustainability, which uses VR to explore how to make walking and cycling more attractive options for students and staff.

What kinds of walking and cycling paths could convince car users to switch to more sustainable transport? What are the best path widths and colours? What does optimal lighting look like? Should cycle paths be shared with pedestrians? Should they be physically separated from cars by kerbs or flexible posts or perhaps a grass verge?

UCD researchers are creating three travel scenarios, which showcase the existing infrastructure on campus, and six hypothetical travel scenarios - with upgraded cycle and walking paths - for volunteers to navigate using VR headsets.

Each hypothetical scenario will provide an immersive VR experience for volunteers and feature different conditions such as lane width, lighting, segregation between cyclists and pedestrians, route information, road markings/ signage, lane colours and nearby vehicle speeds.

After removing their headsets, participants will complete a structured questionnaire to capture their sense of safety and comfort in each scenario. Staff and student volunteers participating in the project will run the spectrum from full-time drivers to regular cyclists and those who walk to work.

“The goal is to make cycling and walking paths as attractive as possible for the user,” says project lead Dr Saptarshi Sen, Assistant Professor at the UCD School of Civil Engineering.

“All the data from the survey will be useful but suggestions and comments from car users are very important because we are ultimately trying to make the infrastructure and facilities attractive enough for them to leave their car and use a bicycle or walk.”

A workshop early next year will invite feedback from regular campus cyclists and walkers before the survey launches in February.

Dr Sen leads this interdisciplinary project with colleagues Dr Meisam Gordan from UCD School of Civil Engineering, Dr Fatemeh Golpeyegani from the School of Computer Science and Dr Sarah Cooney from the School of Psychology.

Their goal is to support UCD’s sustainability commitments, such as being on track for net zero carbon emissions by 2040. The project also aligns with “Vision Zero”, Ireland's commitment to have no road deaths or serious injuries by the year 2050.

Data from the study will help identify which infrastructure improvements - such as wider cycle lanes, better lighting or clearer signage - most encourage people to walk or cycle instead of driving. A research assistant is building the VR environment to provide an immersive experience for respondents. After the data collection, a UCD Engineering with Business master’s student will analyse the cost implications of potential upgrades, from low-cost to optimum and high-investment solutions.

Dr Sen said the findings will ultimately help UCD design safer, more appealing routes across its campus and contribute to a more sustainable travel culture.