Enhancing pedestrian perceived safety through walking environment modification considering traffic and walking...

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning
• Environmental Psychology
• Transportation Engineering

Background:

• Growing interest in pedestrian-friendly cities and people-centered safety.
• Under-reporting of safety evaluations based on pedestrian perception.
• Pedestrian's perceived unsafety deters walking intention.

Purpose of the Study:

• Explore the relationship between walking environmental factors and perceived pedestrian safety.
• Investigate factors influencing subjective safety perception.
• Understand the mediating role of traffic and infrastructure perception.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 99 pedestrians across nine study sites.
• Field investigation of walking environments.
• Mediation effect analyses to explore complex relationships.

Main Results:

• Physical safety factors (e.g., traffic facilities, crosswalks) have limited impact on perceived safety.
• Maintaining infrastructure quality is crucial for enhancing perceived safety.
• Perception of infrastructure quality mediates the relationship with perceived safety.

Conclusions:

• Improvement requires considering both physical and perceived safety.
• Comprehensive planning should enhance traffic safety facilities and ensure user comfort via quality infrastructure.
• Findings support enhancing pedestrian-centered safety and promoting walking for public health.