Crosswalk Research Articles

Effectiveness of Pelican Crossing on Traffic Flow (Case Study: M.H. Thamrin Road and Sudirman Road, Central Jakarta City)

Pelican Crossing is a crossing with a signaling device that is operated by pedestrians and will stop the flow of vehicle traffic. Pedestrians must press a button to request green time from vehicle drivers so that vehicle drivers stop and pedestrians can cross the road. As a metropolitan city, Central Jakarta is full of activity. The increase in the number of vehicles is not the main factor causing congestion. There are other factors such as the movement of pedestrians crossing the road using Pelican Crossing, causing queues and delays. This study aims to analyze the effect of pedestrians crossing at pelican crossing on the queue length of vehicles, to analyze the characteristics of traffic flow and pedestrians due to pelican crossing and to apply a model that connects the characteristics of traffic flow and pedestrians at pelican crossing. The research was conducted by surveying the existing traffic conditions. The results of the research show that after calculating the PV2 value, we can see the discrepancy in the existing pelican crossing facilities on Jalan MH Thamrin and Jalan Sudirman based on the calculation of pedestrian crossings and traffic volume, which in calculating the PV2 value recommends a non-level crossing type.

Fuzzy geostatistical evaluation of micro-scale attributes of sidewalk accessibility: A Brazilian case

Walking is a primary form of mobility and accessible sidewalks are basic features in enabling it. Nevertheless, studies regarding walking and its relation with pedestrian infrastructure are still limited, especially considering a micro-scale approach and the context of developing countries. Thus, this study proposes a fuzzy geostatistical evaluation of sidewalk accessibility considering micro-scale attributes, through the development of an accessibility checklist and its application in Santa Maria city, Brazil. Micro-scale parameters regarding physical accessibility of sidewalks and intersections were applied to evaluate the infrastructure. The research denoted mostly inadequate conditions in the study area, such as: presence of surface cracking and unevennessess; existence of physical obstacles within the effective width and height; absence of tactile pavement; existence of intersections without adequate crosswalks, curb ramps and pedestrian signals. These results indicate that sidewalks and intersections need to be prioritized by local stakeholders, with improvements directed to mitigate the main issues identified.

Impact of pedestrian flows on traffic delays before roundabouts

The paper examines a roundabout located in a residential district of Lviv city. The area has many attraction points, so traffic and pedestrian flow volumes are large. All approaches to the roundabout have unsignalized pedestrian crosswalks, three of which lack safety islands. Field studies were conducted on peak and off-peak periods, collecting primary indicators of traffic and pedestrian flows. Traffic flow delays were determined on the approaches to the roundabout under existing traffic conditions with the help of the PTV VISSIM software. Three options were proposed for arranging pedestrian crosswalks on approaches to the roundabout. The first option was an arrangement of safety islands on all pedestrian crosswalks. The second option was an arrangement of underground pedestrian crosswalks. The third option was the implementation of adapting traffic light control with a call button for pedestrians. Traffic simulation was carried out for all three proposed options with the finding of the delay per vehicle and the values of the average and maximum length of the queue of vehicles on the approaches to the roundabout. All three options showed better results of traffic delay than existing conditions. However, there were delays caused by the traffic flow itself. These delays are seen in the results of the simulation of option two. Traffic delays are the smallest at this option. Option one showed the highest values of traffic delays in comparison with the other two options. The advantages and disadvantages of each option for arranging pedestrian crosswalks are determined. Recommendations are given regarding the feasibility of locating various types of pedestrian crosswalks on the approaches to the roundabout. Given the research results, the best option from the view of traffic and pedestrian flows, their delays and safety is the third one.

Analysis of Luminance Contrast Values at Illuminated Pedestrian Crossings in Urban Conditions

Lighting pedestrian crossings play an important role in ensuring the safety of pedestrians on the road, especially at night or in conditions of reduced visibility. Currently functioning normative and formal requirements, which are the basis for the design of lighting for pedestrian crossings, are described by criteria of lighting intensity. Each of the existing solutions operates in an urban environment, and at the stage of design and operation, the obtained values of the produced luminance contrast of the pedestrian silhouette and its background are not known. The main purpose of the article is to compare, based on luminance parameters, the three lighting solutions used at pedestrian crossings. This article presents and describes the method of determining the luminance contrast based on luminance measurements of the pedestrian silhouette and its background. Detailed results of measurements of luminance parameters at selected pedestrian crossings are presented. An analysis of the results was made with a breakdown of typical lighting solutions used in urban conditions. The differences between standard lighting were discussed, as well as supplementary and dedicated lighting. The obtained ranges of luminance contrast levels occurring in urban conditions for individual solutions were determined. The energy indicator for each solution was determined.

Analysis of Pedestrian Crossing Speed at Signalized and Non-Signalized Crosswalk: A Case Study of Central Station to Str. Tzar Osvobotiel Road of Ruse City

Pedestrian safety is a paramount concern on our roadways, as pedestrians are inherently vulnerable when navigating traffic. In Bulgaria, this research underscores the necessity of prioritizing pedestrian safety in roadway design and traffic control measures. The study's core objective was to analyze pedestrian crossing behaviour and identify optimal locations for pedestrian crossings to enhance overall road safety. A notable finding of the study was the significant influence of crosswalk type on pedestrian crossing speeds. Pedestrians were observed to cross streets more rapidly at signalized crosswalks, highlighting the efficacy of traffic control devices in regulating pedestrian movements. Moreover, the study delved into the influence of age and gender on pedestrian crossing speeds. It revealed that children and adult pedestrians were the fastest groups in terms of crossing speeds, while elderly pedestrians exhibited notably slower speeds. Notably, at non-signalized crosswalks, adult females were the slowest demographic, both in comparison to adult males and in comparison, to both male and female children. In a broader context, the study unveiled that male pedestrians, on the whole, demonstrated significantly faster crossing speeds than their female counterparts. These findings provide valuable insights for road planners and policymakers in Bulgaria, aiming to create safer and more efficient road systems that cater to the unique needs of pedestrians while considering the various factors that influence their crossing behaviours.

Communication Strategies for Effective Interaction With Pedestrians and Automated Service Vehicles in Japanese Parking Areas

One of the challenges in introducing automated service vehicles (ASVs) to parking areas is guiding pedestrians to make quick and appropriate crossing decisions based on an understanding of what the ASV typically does. This study aims to find effective communication strategies for ASVs for pedestrian crossings in Japanese parking areas. Virtual Reality experiments were conducted with 40 participants facilitating vehicle behavior (Normal Deceleration, Early Deceleration, Early Stop) and text-based external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs; No eHMI, “After you,” “I’ll stop,” “In Automated Driving”) as tools of communication with two types of ASVs (bus and golf cart) in parking areas. The results indicated that vehicle behavior significantly influenced pedestrian crossing decisions, and pedestrians began to cross when the ASV decelerated early and stopped not too far from them (Early Deceleration). Self-reported measure analyses revealed that text messages containing the intent of the ASV's actions or instruction (After you, I’ll stop) with Early Deceleration would probably lead to pedestrians’ favorable attitudes toward automated buses. These findings contribute to communication designs based on implicit communication for pedestrian crossing decision-making in parking areas with a clear interpretation of ASV’s intentions.

Driver–passenger guidance model for Chinese freeway service areas based on path selection and parking delay

The driver–passenger guidance model proposed in this article is designed for large-scale freeway service areas that integrate various services such as shopping, leisure and catering. The model focuses on analyzing the impact of perceived travel distance and parking delay on path selection and parking space selection to optimize passenger flow efficiency. A perceived travel distance function is used to construct a pedestrian path selection model whose parameters are calibrated by a stated preference survey. An optimal parking space selection model is established based on the analytic hierarchy process-technique for order of preference based on similarity to the ideal solution method and considers parking distance, outdoor walking distance, indoor perceived travel distance after parking, and the impact of pedestrian crossings on parking delays. The model also calculates the vehicle arrival rate with parking time and the critical gap to ensure pedestrian safety. A parking delay calculation model is established based on the acceptable gap theory. The model is verified using the Yihezhuang service area of the Xiongan freeway as an example. The results show that the pedestrian path selection model improves passenger flow balance and reduces the variance in road passenger flow by 12% and per capita travel time by 9%. The proposed parking delay calculation model reduces parking delays by 30 s compared to models that do not consider pedestrian crossings, indicating its smoothness and convenience.

Prototipe Sistem Monitoring Pelanggaran Zebra Cross di Lampu Merah Berbasis Internet of Things

Zebra Cross is a facility for pedestrians to cross the highway. In addition, zebra crossing is also a marker for motorists that there are lanes for pedestrians to cross. Because of its function to cross the road, pedestrians need to pay attention to their own safety and smooth traffic when crossing. The problem at the red light is the frequent occurrence of violations. Vehicles that break through when the light is red can cause accidents and even cause fatalities. The accident rate in 2022 is 1,321 incidents. Compared to 2021 there were 1,191 incidents. Meanwhile, the number of traffic violations in 2022/2023 was 25,982 compared to 2021 with 11,316. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to create a monitoring system for violations of the zebra crossing line at red lights. This research was built using the prototyping method and using the ESP32-CAM. From the results of this study a tool was created to detect zebra crossing violations using ultrasonic sensors and ESP32-CAM will automatically send evidence of violations via Telegram.

Evaluating Tunnel Users’ Literacy on Expressway Tunnel Fire Safety: Questionnaire Analysis and Policy Decisions

The number of tunnel fire accidents has increased with the scale of expressway tunnel construction and traffic flow. Due to the severity of tunnel fires, improving tunnel fire safety and reducing fire accident hazards has become a societal concern. It is essential to explore and evaluate tunnel fire safety literacy among the population. In this study, an online and on-site questionnaire survey was conducted in Hunan Province, China. A total of 1990 questionnaires were collected, of which 1573 were valid. Overall statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis were performed on valid questionnaires. The results show that the overall level score rate of awareness of drivers and passengers regarding tunnel fire safety was only 0.43. In total, 58.42% of people were unaware of the pedestrian cross passages in expressway tunnels, and 68.40% were unable to recognize them. Similarly, 46.47% of people were unable to recognize evacuation signs in expressway tunnels. In addition, 39.29% of people chose the wrong evacuation behavior. The percentage of people who were aware of the correct usage of firefighting facilities in expressway tunnels was below 50.00%. Correlation analysis results show that tunnel users’ demographic characteristics significantly affected their cognition of expressway tunnel escape methods. This study shows that tunnel users’ emergency escape knowledge regarding tunnels is relatively low. Corresponding countermeasures were proposed to guide policy decisions for enhancing tunnel fire safety.

Investigating Pedestrian Crossing Patterns at Crossing Locations Based on Trajectory Data Collected by UAV

Previous studies on pedestrian crossing have mostly focused on pedestrian crossing decisions; while as an important behavioral aspect, the pedestrian crossing process, i.e., their motions during the entire crossing process, has been narrowly studied. Understanding how pedestrian moves across the street during their entire crossing process helps identify risky movements and reasons for such movements, which can further help in the implementation of effective countermeasures. Therefore, this paper proposed a new and easily applied approach for investigating and understanding the pattern of the pedestrian crossing process at crosswalks based on vision-based trajectory tracking technology and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) data. This study uses UAV for collecting video data which is timesaving and has a sufficient coverage area, compared to other methods. For trajectory extraction, the vision-based Deep-SORT-Yolov5 architecture is applied. An improved DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise) algorithm is introduced for clustering and identification of patterns of pedestrian crossing processes based on their trajectories. This approach is tested via a case study involving six marked crosswalks in Shanghai, China. By using the proposed method, different crossing patterns are extracted and compared. The results show reasonable outputs of trajectory patterns, which reasonably explain the potential instincts of the pedestrians and affecting factors on the behavior of the pedestrian crossing process. Suggestions are made based on the results. This paper contributes to a more comprehensive safety analysis of pedestrian crossings by considering the pedestrian crossing process. The model, along with the UAV-based trajectory observation method, provides an easily-applied and low-cost way of traffic data collection for the purpose of pedestrian safety evaluation.

Assessing the effectiveness of road safety measures in Barcelona (2013-2018)

IntroductionThis article aims to determine the effectiveness and extent of measures taken to decrease the severity of traffic crashes in Barcelona from 2013 to 2018. This will be achieved through an analysis of the traffic crash data. MethodOur approach involves the use of binary logistic regression models. We rely on the traffic crash dataset from 2010-2019 available in the Open Data Barcelona platform. ResultsThe outcomes obtained from the suggested models are contrasted with the strategies outlined in the Local Road Safety Plan 2013-2018 to minimize the severity of crashes. Effective preventive actions were identified, such as road safety educational programs, creating calm zones, enhancing pedestrian crossings, or expanding bicycle lanes. However, certain measures were found to be ineffective or their impact remained uncertain. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the measures implemented in Barcelona may have participated in and influenced the decrease in the severity of traffic incidents over the past decade. Notably, fatalities have decreased more than severe injuries. More attention should be given to less effective measures such as speed controls and drug/alcohol testing.

Footstep-powered floor tile: Design and evaluation of an electromagnetic frequency up-converted energy harvesting system enhanced by a cylindrical Halbach array

Energy harvesting floor systems use the mechanical energy generated by human weight to produce electrical energy, providing sustainable power sources for low-power systems at pedestrian crossings. They also have the potential to serve as renewable energy solutions on a larger scale. This study evaluates the design and performance of a kinetic energy harvester floor tile. The system design employs a frequency up-conversion technique to utilize the force exerted by the weight of humans for creating vibrational movement. In addition, the use of the cylindrical Halbach array improves the magnetic flux gradient, leading to an increased power output. A semi-analytical model is presented to evaluate the system performance, which is then validated through available experimental analysis and finite element simulations. A sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the impact of various factors on system performance, ultimately determining the optimal configuration. The optimal modular system is then used to create a 30 × 30 cm2 tile. This tile is capable of generating energy while walking, running, jogging, slow running, and fast running, with power outputs of 0.57, 0.85, 1.11, and 1.42 W (0.57, 0.86, 1.11, and 1.58 mW/cm2) respectively. Additionally, it is estimated that 511 mJ (568 mJ/cm2) of energy is generated per step. Additionally, an assessment is conducted on the energy production capabilities and environmental advantages of a specific site, such as a subway station.

Investigating factors influencing pedestrian crosswalk usage behavior in Dhaka city using supervised machine learning techniques

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users and are over-represented in casualty statistics, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. To ensure the safety of pedestrians, it is necessary to identify the factors underlying pedestrian behavior while crossing. Hence, this study aims to predict the pedestrian decision regarding crosswalks using supervised machine learning techniques namely, Classification and Regression Tree (CART), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost). A questionnaire survey was conducted in twelve important locations of Dhaka, Bangladesh using 8 attributes related to crosswalk behavior. Analysis suggests RF model is the most effective in terms of prediction performances, specifically having a 96.00% F1 score and 95.83% MCC value. It has been found that unsuitability of crosswalk location, absence of guard rails on median, and inadequate lightning at night near crosswalks are the most important features for preferring to use crosswalks. The findings of the study will help policymakers and transport planners to plan accordingly in order to develop safe crosswalks.

Unveiling Seniors' Perception of Mobility: Urbanization, Region, and Physical Activity.

Maintaining mobility is fundamental to active aging, allowing older adults to lead dynamic and independent lives. The perception of mobility among older adults significantly impacts their overall well-being and quality of life. Given the aging population, mobility has become an increasingly pressing issue. This study focused on the perception of urban neighborhoods, including considerations of urban tissue (crossings and sidewalk maintenance), urban scenes (benches and traffic), and safety (fears and street lighting quality). We investigated the differences in the perception of the surroundings of residences by urban and rural seniors concerning their demographic and social characteristics and environmental determinants. A quantitative study design utilizing a questionnaire survey was employed. Data were collected mainly through face-to-face interviews in the field (PAPI) and via an online questionnaire (CAWI). The final sample comprised 525 participants. Hypotheses regarding the influence of gender, age, social status, level of physical activity, degree of urbanization, and region on environmental perception were tested using ordinal regression. The hypothesis regarding the dependence of the perception of the surroundings on the level of urbanization was confirmed; that regarding the dependence of the perception of the residence surroundings on seniors' age was not confirmed. The other hypotheses were partially confirmed. For the seven investigated environmental attributes, gender was significant in two cases, social status and physical activity in three cases, and region in four cases. While most studies have focused on urban settings, this study highlights the situation in rural municipalities. Substantially worse pedestrian conditions in availability of pedestrian crossings, benches, and lighting were recognized in rural municipalities versus cities. Understanding the complexity of mobility and the spatial locations relevant for older persons concerning potential barriers and facilitators for mobility aids in planning and adapting neighborhood environments to promote active and healthy aging in place.

USER PERCEPTIONS BASED LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR UNCONTROLLED MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS USING TRAFFIC SURVEYS AND ITS REGRESSION ANALYSIS

The exponential growth of urban populations has led to a substantial increase in traffic on urban roads, prompting extensive research into optimizing road networks for vehicular traffic. However, there has been a noticeable lack of attention given to the safety and well-being of pedestrians. One particularly perilous scenario for pedestrians occurs at mid-block crossing locations where well-designed crosswalks are absent. In such areas, pedestrians are forced to identify safe crossing points, often with limited safety measures in place. Ensuring the safety, convenience, comfort, and minimal delay for pedestrians in these situations is imperative. To address this gap, a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of service at mid-block crosswalks is necessary. This research study focused on assessing the quality of service at non-signalized mid-block pedestrian crossings from the perspective of consumers. The analysis employed regression techniques and gathered data from four distinct mid-block crossing locations in different areas of Visakhapatnam. Data collection involved video image surveillance to obtain data on pedestrian quantities, volume-based characteristics, walking speeds, capacity, and gap sizes, complemented by questionnaires to capture real-time experiences and opinions of pedestrians. The questionnaire encompassed various variables affecting crossing quality, including demographic information and pedestrian perceptions of safety and comfort. Pedestrians rated these attributes on a scale of one to six, with their scores serving as variables for subsequent analysis. This approach seeks to ensure that pedestrians have the safest, most comfortable, and efficient means to cross the street while minimizing potential delays. Keywords:Pedestrian safety,Mid-block crossing,Quality of service,Urban road traffic,Crosswalk design, Consumer perspective,Data collection, ,Questionnaires,Perception,Safety measures,Comfort, Demographic information,,Efficiency,Delay mitigation,Regression analysis,Vehicular traffic optimization,Urbanization impact.

Analysis of pedestrian crossing behavior based on Centralized Unscented Kalman Filter and pedestrian awareness based social force model

With the development of autonomous driving, ensuring pedestrian safety has become a hot research topic. The traditional pedestrian crossing behavior research mostly track and predict pedestrian crossing from the view of vehicles, but do not have in-depth research on the impact of other elements in the traffic scene. This paper proposes a method for analyzing pedestrian crossing behavior based on roadside equipment for specific road sections. First, a pedestrian awareness-based social force model (PASFM) is proposed by introducing the factors that influence pedestrian crossing decisions in traffic scenarios into the social force model (SFM), including zebra crossings, fellow walkers and vehicles. To explore the psychological state of vehicles and pedestrians when they interact, evolutionary game theory is used to simulate the psychological characteristics of pedestrians when they encounter vehicles, and then reflect in the changes of the desired speed. Then Centralized Unscented Kalman Filter (CUKF) is proposed to complete the whole process of tracking and predicting the motion state of pedestrian crossing behavior, which uses PASFM as its prediction process. Finally, simulations and experiments are designed to show the effectiveness of our methods. Results show that the proposed method performs better during pedestrian tracking and can predict their crossing behavior to a certain extent.

Factors affecting pedestrian injury severity in pedestrian-vehicle crashes: Insights from a data mining and mixed logit model approach

There has been a concerning rise in pedestrian fatalities resulting from traffic accidents. This study conducts an in-depth analysis of the factors that contribute to the injury severity of pedestrians considering human, vehicle, roadway, and environmental characteristics of the crashes. A novel approach is proposed by combing a data mining technique and mixed logit models. First, the Apriori algorithm is employed to uncover patterns between fatal and incapacitating injury outcomes and their influencing factors. Then, mixed logit models are developed to investigate heterogeneity across all observations under two different lighting conditions. It is found that eight variables show heterogeneity affecting the injury severity of crash outcomes. Results also indicate that drivers older than 65 years old will increase the probability of pedestrian injury severity at dark-unlighted roads. Additionally, the present of signal and double yellow line has could increase the injury severity. Creating optimal lighting conditions at pedestrian crossings during nighttime hours and enhancing safety education initiatives for pedestrians are critical factors to improve pedestrian safety. The finding of this study will benefit policymakers and road safety professionals develop more effective strategies for preventing pedestrian injuries in vehicle crashes.

Combining SysML and Timed Coloured Petri Nets for Designing Smart City Applications

A smart city is an urban centre that integrates a variety of solutions to improve infrastructure performance and achieve sustainable urban development. Urban roads are a crucial infrastructure highly demanded by citizens and organisations interested in their deployment, performance, and safety. Urban traffic signal control is an important and challenging real-world problem that aims to monitor and improve traffic congestion. The deployment of traffic signals for vehicles or pedestrians at an intersection is a complex activity that changes constantly, so it is necessary to establish rules to control the flow of vehicles and pedestrians. Thus, this article describes the joint use of the SmartCitySysML, a profile proposed by the authors, with TCPN (Timed Coloured Petri Nets) to refine and formally model SysML diagrams specifying the internal behaviour, and then verify the developed model to prove behavioural properties of an urban traffic signal control system.

Development and validation of a video-based assessment tool for children's street-crossing safety

BackgroundThe alarming rate of child pedestrian fatalities highlights an urgent imperative for comprehensive test on children's street-crossing safety. Various methods in children's street-crossing studies were reviewed, and the advantages of the video-based experimental real-walk methods were introduced. AimThe present study aimed to develop a reliable assessment tool to evaluate children's crossing safety, assess its validity, and identify developmental characteristics of children's crossing abilities. MethodsWe recorded scenarios of vehicle-pedestrian interactions with varying distances and speeds at multiple suburban zebra crossings without traffic lights, and projected the videos to guide participants through a realistic crossing experience indoors. Sixty children, with 20 in each age group of 6, 8, and 11 years old (with equal numbers of boys and girls), were recruited. The children's crossing safety was measured using the dangerous crossing (DC), safe crossing rate (SCR) and time to contact (TTC), and they were also asked to complete the Chinese version of the Pedestrian Behavior Scale (CPBS). Their eye movements were also recorded with a portable eye tracker. ResultsThe correlation analysis of the simulated street-crossing video test revealed significant associations between behavioral indicators (DC, TTC), CPBS, and eye movement indicators, indicating strong empirical validity. Difficulty analysis confirmed the relatively high SCR among child pedestrians across all three age groups. Discriminant validity analysis demonstrated that age significantly predicted children's crossing safety, with 6-year-olds exhibiting lower safety in both behavioral and attentional dimensions compared to 8-year-olds and 11-year-olds. Finally, predictive validity results indicated varying effects of TTC on CPBS scores across different age groups, with a more significant predictive effect for younger children possessing lower street-crossing abilities. ConclusionThe video test effectively verified the critical period and developmental trend of children's crossing ability and demonstrated high validity. Overall, the developed video test is an effective tool for assessing school-aged children's crossing safety.

Thermoplastic road markings – Description and microplastic pollution estimate in Sweden

Road markings were sometimes reported as meaningful contributors to microplastic pollution. To estimate their wear, 126 pedestrian crossings, which constitute the worst-case scenario because all passing vehicles encroach on them, were analysed for luminance loss as an indicator of complete abrasion. The assessment was done in Sweden, where thermoplastic road marking materials prevail – unique because they can be made with polymeric or non-polymeric binders. Average loss of marked surface was 19.1%; hence, after adjusting for lower abrasion at longitudinal lines, the annual contribution of road markings to microplastic pollution in Sweden should not exceed 60 t (assuming the exclusive use of non-polymeric binders) or up to 231 t (assuming all non-volatile organics being potential microplastics), corresponding to 5.7−‍22.0 g/person/year. The outcome of this study should be utilised by environmental scientists assigning sources of pollution and should be useful for regulators and road administrators to promote the most environmentally friendly road markings.