An Examination of the Safety Impacts of Bus Priority Routes in Major Israeli Cities

Victoria Gitelman,Wafa Elias,Anna Korchatov

doi:10.3390/su12208617

Victoria Gitelman, Wafa Elias + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208617

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Abstract

Bus priority routes (BPRs) promote public transport use in urban areas; however, their safety impacts are not sufficiently understood. Along with proven positive mobility effects, such systems may lead to crash increases. This study examines the safety impacts of BPRs, which have been introduced on busy urban roads in three major Israeli cities—Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. Crash changes associated with BPR implementation are estimated using after–before or cross-section evaluations, with comparison-groups. The findings show that BPR implementation is generally associated with increasing trends in various crash types and, particularly, in pedestrian crashes at junctions. Yet, the results differ depending on BPR configurations. Center lane BPRs are found to be safer than curbside BPRs. The best safety level is observed when a center lane BPR is adjacent to a single lane for all-purpose traffic. Local public transport planners should be aware of possible negative implications of BPRs for urban traffic safety. Negative safety impacts can be moderated by a wider use of safety-related measures, as demonstrated in BPRs’ operation in Haifa. Further research is needed to delve into the reasons for the negative safety impacts of BPRs under Israeli conditions relative to the positive impacts reported in other countries.

Highlights

According to worldwide estimates, more than 50% of the global population are currently living in urban areas, and by 2050, this figure will rise to 68%, i.e., more than two-thirds of the global population [1]
The safety impacts of this measure should preferably be assessed by means of after–before analyses of crash figures observed on the road sites with treatment, while accounting for the crash changes that occurred at comparison-group sites [44]
High shares of pedestrian crashes were observed at other hours, indicating that pedestrian crashes are pertinent to this street due to the high pedestrian presence and not necessarily related to the bus lane operation

Summary

Introduction

More than 50% of the global population are currently living in urban areas, and by 2050, this figure will rise to 68%, i.e., more than two-thirds of the global population [1]. Rise in urban density is accompanied by a growing use of public transport as a mobility mode [3]. A 2017 report [4], using data from 39 countries, indicated an evolution in urban mobility patterns over the last decade, i.e., growth in the modal share of public transport, together with other sustainable modes like walking and cycling, and, complementing this trend, a marked decrease in car use. Urban mobility choices were strongly linked to density, with a higher propensity to travel by public transport observed in more densely populated areas. In line with recent developments, current policies for sustainable urban mobility focus on promoting public transport, walking and cycling [5,6]

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