WALK VERSUS DON'T WALK - IMPROVING THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE

Pedestrian safety issues at signalized intersections have long been a major concern to the public. In the past, pedestrian safety improvements at signalized intersections were mainly based on engineering perspective and experience. Engineering based improvements, however, may not meet actual pedestrians' expectations. There is a need to evaluate safety issues of signalized intersections from the pedestrians' perspectives. Furthermore, it is essential to recognize the improvements that pedestrians themselves would pursue if provided the opportunity. This paper created and conducted a pedestrian opinion survey to evaluate pedestrian safety issues at a cross section of signalized intersections in Sarasota, Florida. The first part of the survey assesses the reasons of perceived safe and dangerous signalized intersections. The second part requests the ranking of needed safety improvements from the pedestrians' perspectives. Major fundamental pedestrian-related questions are included in part three. Quantitative analyses were conducted to identify the reasons of perceived safe and dangerous signalized intersections and needed safety improvements. Based on the survey results, this paper compares general engineering improvements and pedestrians' expectations. This paper then addresses practical low and high technology improvements that can be applied to enhance pedestrian safety at signalized intersections. In addition to engineering recommendations, this paper also provides recommendations on education and enforcement to improve the pedestrian experience.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0935403752
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Lin, P-S
  • Boudreau, A J
• Conference:
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) 2003 Technical Conference and Exhibit
  • Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
  • Date: 2003-3-23 to 2003-3-26
• Publication Date: 2003-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 18p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Education; Engineering; Improvements; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrians; Public opinion; Signalized intersections; Surveys; Technology; Traffic law enforcement; Traffic safety; Walking
• Geographic Terms: Sarasota (Florida)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00943870
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0935403752
• Report/Paper Numbers: CD-020
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 19 2003 12:00AM