Pedestrians’ Gap Acceptance Behavior at Mid Block Location

Abstract

Walking is one of the main transport mode and more sustainable to human society. Pedestrian interaction with motor vehicles is found to be one of the major constraints to pedestrians' during road crossing. Traffic accidents involving pedestrians are a major safety problem throughout the world. The objective of this study is to investigate pedestrians' gap acceptance behaviour at mid block street crossings in urban arterial roads. In this study the size of vehicular gaps accepted by pedestrians and the decision making processes are mainly examined. For this purpose a suitable mid block section was selected in Hyderabad. Video graphic survey was conducted to collect pedestrians' characteristics, vehicular characteristics and flow characteristics. Pedestrian gap acceptance behavioral model was developed using regression technique. The study result shows that pedestrians' gap acceptance is better explained by the following variable attempts - pedestrian speed condition during crossing, crossing direction, rolling gap, vehicle speed and pedestrian age. The rolling gap plays a main role in pedestrians' decision making process.