Investigation of illegal road users' behavior at overpass locations and the effect of an escalator on the overpass usage ratio

Önelçin, Pelin; Alver, Yalçın · 2018 · Crossref

DOI: 10.5505/pajes.2018.65188

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Summary

This study investigates pedestrian behavior at overpass locations in Izmir, Turkey, specifically examining the impact of escalator presence on overpass usage rates and illegal street-level crossing behaviors. While pedestrian safety research has historically focused on signalized crossings, studies regarding overpasses remain limited. The authors aim to determine how physical infrastructure, particularly escalators, influences the "consistency ratio" (R)—a metric comparing the time required to cross via an overpass versus at street level—and to assess pedestrian perceptions of safety and convenience. The research employed a comparative design using two overpass sites with similar road geometries: the Kostence overpass, which lacks an escalator, and the Agora overpass, which includes one. Data collection involved field observations of 521 pedestrians at Kostence and 284 at Agora, recording crossing times, speeds, and demographic details. Additionally, short questionnaires were administered to pedestrians to gauge their safety perceptions, reasons for illegal crossings, and evaluations of overpass utility. The study utilized binary logit models to analyze factors influencing the choice between legal overpass use and illegal street-level crossing, with variables including gender, age, group status, and load carrying. Results indicated that while overpass usage was generally higher than illegal crossing at both sites, the Kostence overpass (without an escalator) exhibited a higher usage rate than the Agora overpass (with an escalator). This counterintuitive finding was attributed to frequent escalator malfunctions at the Agora site, which discouraged use. Binary logit analysis revealed that gender significantly influenced behavior; women were significantly more likely to use the overpass than men at both locations. At Kostence, pedestrians aged 20–64 and those crossing individually were more prone to illegal crossings. At Agora, crossing in groups positively influenced overpass usage. Average crossing speeds for illegal crossings were 1.72 m/s at Kostence and 1.63 m/s at Agora. Questionnaire data showed that overpass users overwhelmingly perceived their crossings as safe and recommended them to others, whereas illegal crossers rarely recommended their behavior. Furthermore, 84% of Agora users found the escalator convenient, highlighting its potential to improve user perception when functional. The study concludes that the traditional consistency ratio formula, which relies solely on time, is insufficient for evaluating overpass effectiveness, as it ignores critical factors like infrastructure reliability and user perception. The authors recommend revising the formula to account for these variables. They emphasize that while escalators can enhance overpass appeal, their effectiveness is contingent upon regular maintenance to prevent service disruptions. The findings suggest that infrastructure design must consider both physical accessibility and operational reliability to effectively reduce illegal pedestrian crossings and improve road safety.

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• rail grade crossings