Mobility for Sustainable Urban and Regional Development I

[068] Exploration of Factors Influencing Pedestrians’ Crossing Behaviors and Preference between Overpass and Underpass in Yangon

Ei Honey Soe, Fumihiko Nakamura, Mihoko Matsuyuki, Shinji Tanaka, Ryo Aryoshi

キーワード：Safety, Pedestrians’ crossing behaviors and attitudes, Segregated crossing facilities

As the pedestrians are the most potential to being crashed by vehicles on the roads and their risks are always higher than as compared to other road users. Generally, pedestrians always receive lesser attention from transport planners and relevant authorities. This study tends to implement pedestrian-friendly and safety infrastructure in Myanmar and pedestrian crossing facility/ infrastructure is one of the components of those infrastructures. Thus, it is needed to understand pedestrians’ crossing behaviors, attitudes, and preferences. In this study, there have three major objectives, the first objective is to assess the pedestrians’ behaviors and attitudes during their crossings, and the second objective is to observe which factors are associated with and influence the pedestrians for their crossing on existing crossing facilities in Yangon. The third objective is the exploration of their preference between segregated crossing facilities and grade-level crosswalks were excluded in this analysis because the safety level is lower than the grade-separated crossing infrastructure and the aim of this study tends to be safety. The methodology includes three parts: (1) Road Crash Data Analysis in Yangon city, (2) Analysis of pedestrians’ crossing behaviors, attitudes, and preferences (Mixed Methodology approach), and (3) Comparison and review of overpass and underpass usages. The secondary data from the relevant departments were used for the accident data analysis, and it aims to be aware of pedestrian fatalities in Yangon. A designated web survey and an in-depth interview were conducted for the second section and those data were used as the primary data of this study. The experiences regarding the use of segregated crossing facilities in the other countries were reviewed for the third section of this study and the purpose is to observe and compare the effectiveness of segregated crossing facilities usage. The author conducted data statistic software for the evaluation. By analyzing the data, it was found that the pedestrians who don’t have licenses are less likely to take the risk in crossing as compared to pedestrians who have driving licenses. Most pedestrians always choose the shortest route to get to their destination. They prefer crossing in safely, and conveniently without waiting red time phase. If the grade level crosswalks were convenient and accessible to elderly and disabled persons, pedestrians’ willingness to use them also would be increased and the use of overpasses decreases with an increase in age. The convenience parameter is one of the influenced variables on existing crosswalks usage in Yangon. Participants are less willing to use an overpass than an underpass, and female pedestrians are more willing to choose an underpass than male pedestrians. Moreover, they usually choose the crossing facilities depending on their convenience, less time consumption, safety, and personal security.