Evaluation

Investigating Bicyclists' Perception of Comfort on Physically Separated Bicycle Paths in Nanjing, China

Li, Zhibin
Wang, Wei
Liu, Pan
Schneider, Robert J.
Ragland, David R.
2014

Providing bicyclists favorable and comfortable riding environments is an important objective for transportation professionals. This study investigated the factors that contribute to bicyclists' perception of comfort on physically separated bicycle paths and quantified their impacts. A survey was conducted on 29 physically separated bicycle paths in the metropolitan area of Nanjing, China. A factor analysis and an ordered probit model were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the mean perception of comfort was significantly different between age groups, but not...

Consequences of Driving Reduction or Cessation for Older Adults

Harrison, Ayodele
Ragland, David R.
2003

The purpose of this study was to understand the adverse consequences of driving reduction or cessation among elderly adults. A comprehensive literature search was conducted for studies that (a) included information on driving by an elderly population, (b) included results from a qualitative or quantitative (or both) study of the elderly and driving cessation, and (c) provided information to evaluate consequences surrounding driving reduction or cessation. The selected subjects of the studies included men...

Design of Alert Criteria for an Intersection Decision Support System

Shladover, Steven E.
Vanderwerf, Joel
Ragland, David R.
Chan, Chin-Yao
2005

This paper describes the design and preliminary evaluation of the criteria for alerting drivers to a specific set of intersection hazards. The research is being conducted as part of the development of an intersection decision support (IDS) system that uses the sensing and computational technologies of infrastructure-based intelligent transportation systems. The IDS system under consideration is intended to help drivers avoid conflicts with oncoming traffic when they are making left turns under a permissive (i.e., unprotected) green signal. These conflicts account for a significant...

Drivers, Pedestrians, and Cyclists in California Want Complete Streets: Comparison of Results from Roadway Design Surveys of Pedestrians, Drivers, Bicyclists, and Transit Users in Northern and Southern California

Sanders, Rebecca L.
Griffin, Ashleigh
MacLeod, Kara E.
Cooper, Jill F.
2014

This paper compares findings from two recent surveys on roadway design preferences among pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists, and public transit users along major urban corridors in the metro areas of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Sponsored by the California Department of Transportation (DOT), the research explored design preferences that could increase perceived traffic safety, walkability, bikability, and economic vitality along urban arterials. Results from intercept surveys showed that roadway users desire similar design features along the test corridors, which carry 25,000-40,000...

Experimental Research of Relationship between Pedestrian Stopping Distance and Walking Speed to Avoid Pedestrian Crowd Stampede Accident

Zhang, Yuanyuan
Chen, Xiaohong
Li, Na
2010

Stampede accidents usually take place in crowded areas in transfer stations, sports stadiums, shopping malls, religious places and other similar areas. One of the causes of stampedes is that people do not have enough distance to stop themselves when there are emergencies. Like vehicles, pedestrians also need stopping distance when they want to stop from a certain speed, especially in a sudden situation without any previous notice. People who could not stop in time crush into or step upon other people, and may trigger a stampede accident. Analysis of worldwide stampede accidents reveals the...

Wayfinding-Oriented Design for Passenger Guidance Signs in Large-Scale Transit Center in China

Zhang, Yuanyuan
Chen, Xiaohong
Jiang, Jingwen
2010

Transit centers should offer well-designed guidance signs to help passengers find their way to desired destinations easily and quickly. The current design of guidance signs in large-scale transit centers in China, however, is based almost solely on interior and art design, with virtually no accounting for passengers’ wayfinding requirements. As a tentative effort to fill that need, this study presents a wayfinding-oriented design for guidance signs. The case of a large transit center in China is used to illustrate how wayfinding requirements can be incorporated into specific design. In...

Household Travel Surveys in Context-Based Approach for Adjusting ITE Trip Generation Rates in Urban Contexts

Clifton, Kelly J.
Currans, Kristina M.
Cutter, April C.
Schneider, Robert J.
2012

With household travel surveys (HTSs) to produce a regional-scale policy model, this research develops a methodology for predicting context-based vehicle-trip reductions applied to ITE’s Trip Generation Handbook at a site-level development. This methodology may be used as a supplement to ITE trip generation rates, providing justification to vehicle-trip reductions based on known contextual vehicle mode splits. With the 2006 HTS of the Puget Sound Regional Council, Washington State, non-home-based trip ends were selected, and common built environment measures were extracted. A clustering...

Safe Routes to School Safety and Mobility Analysis

Orenstein, Marla R.
Gutierrez, Nicolas
Rice, Thomas M.
Cooper, Jill F.
Ragland, David R.
2007

This report evaluates the SR2S program for a number of mandated issues: (i) The effectiveness of the program in reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities involving children in the vicinity of the projects; (ii) The impact of the program on levels of walking and bicycling to school; and (iii) The safety benefits of the program in comparison with other highway safety programs.

Observational Survey of Cell Phone Use and Texting by California Drivers, 2011

Cooper, Jill F.
Ragland, David R.
Ewald, Katrin
Wasserman, Lisa
Murphy, Christopher J.
2012

This methodological report describes survey research and data collection methods employed for the first observational survey of cell phone use and texting by California drivers. This study was conducted by Ewald and Wasserman Research Consultants on behalf of the California Office of Traffic Safety and the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at the University of California, Berkeley. The goal of the survey was to obtain a statewide, statistically representative observational sample. Vehicle drivers were observed at controlled intersections, such as traffic lights and stop...

Reasons Given by Older People for Limitation or Avoidance of Driving

Ragland, David R.
Satariano, William A.
MacLeod, Kara E.
2002

Purpose: To understand the driving behavior of older adults, this study examines self-reported reasons for driving limitation or avoidance.Design and Methods: Baseline interviews were conducted (n = 2,046) as part of a community-based study of aging and physical performance in persons aged 55 years or older in Sonoma, California. Twenty-one medical and nonmedical reasons for limiting or avoiding driving were examined by age and gender. Results: Most older people continue...