Qualitative Evaluation of Pedestrians’ Perceptions of Walk Ability and Safety in Relation to the Built Environment in Cali, Colombia

According to the Observatory of Crime in Cali, Columbia, pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users accounting for 50% of the total traffic-related deaths in the last 15 years. Despite this, there has been little research about the pedestrian perceptions of safety in particular with relation to the characteristics of the physical environment. This study compares pedestrian perceptions of safety and walkability by means of intercept interviews with perceptions reported in focal group settings. The study conducted 400 pedestrian intercept interviews from 20 urban zones addressing frequency of walking and perceptions of safety and security. Quantitative data from interviews were compared with qualitative data from focal groups regarding walkability and safety in relation to the physical characteristics of the environment. Results indicated that 40% of interviewed pedestrians were residents of the place, 46% of people reported being habitual walkers in the area, 56% perceived the neighborhood where they were walking as unsafe and mostly at night. Over 80% were satisfied with access to public transportation and about half considered pedestrian crosswalks to be acceptable. Most complaints referred to excess noise, traffic and pollution. Combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies to collect information about pedestrian perceptions of safety and walkability improved and strengthened the results of this study. The perceptions of focus group participants has given valuable information that will be used to develop community prevention strategies addressing pedestrian injuries in this city

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13538047
• Authors:
  • Espitia, J F R
  • Villaveces, A
  • Gil, L Nieto
  • Ortega, D
  • Medina, J J
  • Martinez, M I G
• Conference:
  • Safety 2010. 10th World Conference
  • Location: London , United Kingdom
  • Date: 2010-9-21 to 2010-9-24
• Publication Date: 2010-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: v.p.
• Monograph Title: Safety 2010 World Conference
• Serial:
  • Injury Prevention
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: Supplement 1
  • Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
  • ISSN: 1353-8047
  • EISSN: 1475-5785
  • Serial URL: http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Built environment; Crash data; Human factors in crashes; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian traffic; Perception; Walkability
• Geographic Terms: Cali (Colombia)
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01329371
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 16 2011 1:41PM