Listening to Pedestrian; What are the Influential Factors on Bridge use?

Abstract

Background: Pedestrian bridges are safe tools for street crossing. Bridges structural characteristics, locating and also pedestrian perception and attitudes may affect their bridge use behavior. The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing use/non-use of pedestrian bridges in Tabriz, Iran. Methods: Using cross-sectional approach, we have conducted a study in Tabriz, 2019. Through a pilot study data and Cochrane formula, the sample size was estimated to be 360. Sampling was done using simple random sampling method. Pedestrians around two types of the bridges with/whiteout escalator were included in the study. Sample allocation was done equally among bridges. A valid questionnaire (CVI= 0.78, α=0.75) was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: Totally 358 people were participated with an average age of 29±11.6 years. More than 72% of the participants had driving license and about a quarter of them had a crash history. Nearly 10% declared that they use pedestrian bridge sometimes or never. About 43% believed that bridge using is necessary only in crowded streets. Locating issues including bridge distance from zebra lines and pedestrian destination, lack of escalator, bridge darkness at nighttime and pedestrian perception of bridge safety were the main barriers to use bridges. Having a driving license and education level were significantly associated with pedestrian bridge use behavior (p<0.05). Conclusions: Designing pedestrian bridges using artistic principles will create more sense of safety and positive perception which will facilitate bridges utility. Future developments in pedestrian safety initiatives should consider effective countermeasures which influence pedestrian safe behavior such as bridge use.

Relación cuantitativa entre atropellamientos y puentes peatonales en Chihuahua, México

“…Estos resultados concuerdan con un estudio realizado en Honduras, donde se encontró una correlación entre el desuso de puentes peatonales por parte de estudiantes de una universidad pública por la asociación de la infraestructura con asaltos y la consideración de su uso como una actividad fatigosa (Landa-Blanco y Ávila, 2020). En Tabriz, Irán, un estudio preliminar reporta que la percepción de las personas sobre su seguridad es un factor predominante que afecta la usabilidad de estas estructuras (Saadati et al, 2020). En Dar es-Salam, Tanzania, se encontró que los transeúntes valoran el desuso de puentes peatonales especialmente durante las horas de la noche, en dicho estudio muchos participantes percibieron como aterrador la ocupación del puente por personas que incluso simplemente estuvieran de pie, pues podría tratarse de asaltantes (Katopola et al, 2022).…”