Crossing Conditions and Kerb Delay Assessment for Better Safety and Accessibility of Road Pedestrian Crossings at Urban Intersections

The accessibility of urban contexts is closely connected to analysis of geometric and functional details that can influence the actions of road vulnerable users. The correct design of the spaces and their accessibility must consider all age groups and problems related not only to safety but also to perception and comfortable movement. This research investigated the behavior of 3887 pedestrians (both elderly and non-elderly people) in two pedestrian crossings located in an urban intersection of Catania. Two video cameras were used to record oncoming vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection. An initial analysis of the number of legal/illegal crossings was developed in order to understand if different crosswalk setback distances lead pedestrians to illegal crossings. The results show that pedestrians prefer to cross choosing the shortest way, even if this leads to illegal crossing. Then, the kerb delay was calculated, i.e. the time interval between the moment in which the rear part of the last vehicle in the queue exceeds the pedestrian waiting for crossing and the moment when the pedestrian takes the first step to cross. The hypothesis that older pedestrians have longer kerb delay because of declines in their physical, sensory, perceptual or cognitive abilities was tested.