Appreciation of Gender Differences in Development of Qualitative Level of Service for Sidewalks

Pedestrian level of service indicates the environmental qualities of a pedestrian space and serves as a guide in developing standards for pedestrian facilities. Pedestrian space needs to be designed in consideration of human convenience and must be qualitatively suitable to the needs of users. Additional environmental factors that contribute to the walking experience and consequently to the perceived level of service—such as comfort, security, and attractiveness—should also be considered. The central hypothesis in this paper is that gender difference plays an important role in the importance attached to different parameters of the walkability index. With this hypothesis, the difference in perception of male and female pedestrians for different parameters of pedestrian facilities has been analyzed. Five parameters were identified: sidewalk width, sidewalk surface, obstruction, security, and comfort. Equal numbers of male and female pedestrians in different land uses in Delhi, India, were interviewed with a view to understanding the variation in perception. They were asked to rate the importance of the five parameters according to their needs and requirements on a 5-point scale ranging from most important to immaterial and their response on a satisfaction rating regarding the sidewalk facility they were using on a 5-point scale ranging from excellent to poor. The importance ratings were called weights attached to the parameter. This study found that the responses of male and female pedestrians in terms of mean relative weights for all five parameters differed from one another.

• Record URL:
  http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/165294.aspx
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Womens_Issues_in_Transportation_Summary_of_the_4th_165294.aspx
• Authors:
  • Parida, Purnima
  • Parida, M
• Conference:
  • 4th International Conference on Women's Issues in Transportation
  • Location: Irvine California, United States
  • Date: 2009-10-27 to 2009-10-30
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 246-253
• Monograph Title: Women's Issues in Transportation: Summary of the 4th International Conference. Volume 2: Technical Papers
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Conference Proceedings
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue Number: 46
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 1073-1652

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Comfort; Design; Females; Gender; Level of service; Males; Obstructions (Navigation); Pedestrian areas; Pedestrians; Safety and security; Sidewalks; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Sidewalk surfaces
• Geographic Terms: Delhi (India)
• Subject Areas: Design; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Terminals and Facilities; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01339646
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309160834
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 11 2011 2:21PM