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The Wider Costs of Roads on Health and Wellbeing
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A. Taniguchi et al. / Journal of Transport & Health 3 (2016) S62–S78
PST-7 Active Travel/Walking/Pedestrian P19 Shared Space: Could Less Formal Streets be Better for Both Pedestrians and Vehicles? Benjamin Wargo, Norman Garrick University of Connecticut, CT, USA
Abstract Background: Shared space is a design concept becoming increasingly common in European countries. It intentionally blurs pedestriandriver boundaries in order to reduce vehicle speeds, create more walkable areas, and improve aesthetics and sense of place. Paradoxically, while allowing freer pedestrian movement, shared space also appears to promote greater vehicle efficiency than conventional traffic control systems. This paradox has been supported by numerous observers but little studied. Methods: This study investigates the shared space paradox. Pedestrian and vehicle characteristics and behaviors were measured for a range of shared spaces in five different countries, including the United States. Traffic analysis software was then used to determine the expected vehicle delay at intersections with traditional control systems and the same number of pedestrians, vehicles, and lanes as the shared spaces. Results: The measured vehicle delays at the shared spaces were found to be considerably lower than the expected vehicle delays at comparable intersections using traditional control systems. The low vehicle delays at the shared spaces are attributed to low vehicle speeds, which, in turn, lead to more seamless and efficient pedestrian-vehicle interactions, and considerably less stop-and-go vehicle behavior. Conclusions: The study results suggest that shared space can provide much greater vehicle capacity than conventional intersections, while also better accommodating pedestrians. If intersections using traditional control systems were to offer the same vehicle capacities as shared spaces, more vehicle lanes would likely be necessary. This would, in turn, result in places that are significantly less supportive of urban life and pedestrian activity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.05.023
P20 The Wider Costs of Roads on Health and Wellbeing Paulo Anciaes, Peter Jones, Jemima Stockton, Jennifer S Mindell UCL, London, United Kingdom
Abstract Background: The economic valuation of the negative impacts of large roads is often limited to environmental aspects such as noise and air pollution. At the same time, there is growing evidence on the benefits of policies to promote walking, but seldom in the context of policies to reduce the impacts of road traffic. Methods to value other aspects, such as the impacts on health, wellbeing and social cohesion remain scarce. The objective of this presentation is to provide estimates of the overall economic value of these wider impacts of large roads and motorised traffic on local communities. The study is part of the Street Mobility and Network Accessibility project at University College London, which is developing tools to understand physical and psychological barriers to walking in residential areas. Methods: Data was collected about the impacts of two large roads in London, using a variety of methods. This data was then combined with the unit monetary values available from the literature: a) Traffic levels and speeds and pedestrian crossing delays were obtained by a video survey and combined with unit values for the health effects of air pollution and noise and for the walking time of trips to public transport nodes. b) The quality of the pedestrian environment was assessed using street audits. The resulting scores were combined with values from stated preference and hedonic studies of housing markets. c) A household survey provided information about averted walking trips and social contacts due to road traffic. This data was combined with values for the effects on health, social exclusion, and social capital. Results: The estimated values for the overall cost of the road are high, compared with those usually reported in transport appraisal studies. However, there is a high degree of variability in the estimated values, depending on the sources of the unit values of each impact. The analysis also revealed substantial differences between the values obtained in each study area, which are explained by differences in the characteristics of population and land use.
A. Taniguchi et al. / Journal of Transport & Health 3 (2016) S62–S78
S75
Conclusions: The accounting of the wider health and wellbeing costs of the presence of large roads in residential areas provides useful information for the appraisal of transport projects, which is often skewed towards the benefits from time savings. However, the use of predetermined unit values can yield unreliable results for the cost estimates, as these depend on local variables. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.05.024
P21 Roadway Intersection Characteristics and Pedestrian-Vehicle Collisions: Are They Related? Jasmin Kim UCLA, CA, USA
Abstract Background: As more and more megacities adopt “Vision Zero” policies to reduce transportation-related deaths, understanding the relationships between roadway characteristics and pedestrian safety is becoming critical. However, few studies reveal such relationships, particularly at or near signalized intersections, where pedestrian-vehicle collisions (PVCs) frequently occur. As such, this research measures the influences of multiple roadway intersection characteristics—such as the built environment, traffic control devices (TCDs), and socio-economic factors of intersection sites—on PVCs at or near intersections in Washington D.C. from 2010 to 2014. Methods: Using collision and roadway attribute data sets obtained from the District Department of Transportation and the U.S. Census, this research involves of four stages of analysis: 1. archival review of all PVCs, 2. spatial mapping of all PVCs that occurred ‘at or near intersections,’ 3. negative binomial regression estimation, and 4. field observations of seven intersections with the highest number of PVCs over pedestrian-demand index (PDI). The first stage will reveal when and where pedestrian-vehicle collisions happened, under what specific traffic, weather, roadway type, and lighting conditions the collisions happened, and how pedestrians were hit in the collisions. The following stages will then reveal any correlations or patterns that exist between PVCs and various roadway intersection characteristics through maps, regression analysis and field observation outputs. Results: Overall, the results of this study uncover some significant relationships between multiple roadway intersection characteristics— particularly, the presence of TCDs, bus stops, commercial and residential land uses, and certain socio-economic factors—and PVCs. While some factors were found to significantly increase the risks of PVCs on pedestrians, some were found to reduce such risks. Based on the results, some countermeasures are recommended to enhance pedestrian safety at roadway intersections. Conclusions: This study suggests that there is no magic bullet in enhancing pedestrian safety as pedestrians are exposed to numerous factors perhaps unaccounted for in this research. However, through innovative methodologies and research like this, cities can now explore which factors significantly disturb or enhance pedestrian safety and prioritize their investments to improve pedestrian safety at roadway intersections. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.05.025
PST-8 Active Travel - Health & Well-Being P22 Walking the Talk: Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Increase Underserved Communities' Capacity to Improve Pedestrian Safety Jaime Fearer 1, Kate Beck 2 1 2
California Walks, CA UC Berkeley, CA, USA
Abstract The Community Pedestrian Safety Training Program: A Partnership between Practitioners, Researchers, and Communities The Community Pedestrian Safety Training (CPST) Program was developed and operates through a partnership between Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) at UC Berkeley and California Walks, a statewide pedestrian policy and advocacy
A. Taniguchi et al. / Journal of Transport & Health 3 (2016) S62–S78
PST-7 Active Travel/Walking/Pedestrian P19 Shared Space: Could Less Formal Streets be Better for Both Pedestrians and Vehicles? Benjamin Wargo, Norman Garrick University of Connecticut, CT, USA
Abstract Background: Shared space is a design concept becoming increasingly common in European countries. It intentionally blurs pedestriandriver boundaries in order to reduce vehicle speeds, create more walkable areas, and improve aesthetics and sense of place. Paradoxically, while allowing freer pedestrian movement, shared space also appears to promote greater vehicle efficiency than conventional traffic control systems. This paradox has been supported by numerous observers but little studied. Methods: This study investigates the shared space paradox. Pedestrian and vehicle characteristics and behaviors were measured for a range of shared spaces in five different countries, including the United States. Traffic analysis software was then used to determine the expected vehicle delay at intersections with traditional control systems and the same number of pedestrians, vehicles, and lanes as the shared spaces. Results: The measured vehicle delays at the shared spaces were found to be considerably lower than the expected vehicle delays at comparable intersections using traditional control systems. The low vehicle delays at the shared spaces are attributed to low vehicle speeds, which, in turn, lead to more seamless and efficient pedestrian-vehicle interactions, and considerably less stop-and-go vehicle behavior. Conclusions: The study results suggest that shared space can provide much greater vehicle capacity than conventional intersections, while also better accommodating pedestrians. If intersections using traditional control systems were to offer the same vehicle capacities as shared spaces, more vehicle lanes would likely be necessary. This would, in turn, result in places that are significantly less supportive of urban life and pedestrian activity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.05.023
P20 The Wider Costs of Roads on Health and Wellbeing Paulo Anciaes, Peter Jones, Jemima Stockton, Jennifer S Mindell UCL, London, United Kingdom
Abstract Background: The economic valuation of the negative impacts of large roads is often limited to environmental aspects such as noise and air pollution. At the same time, there is growing evidence on the benefits of policies to promote walking, but seldom in the context of policies to reduce the impacts of road traffic. Methods to value other aspects, such as the impacts on health, wellbeing and social cohesion remain scarce. The objective of this presentation is to provide estimates of the overall economic value of these wider impacts of large roads and motorised traffic on local communities. The study is part of the Street Mobility and Network Accessibility project at University College London, which is developing tools to understand physical and psychological barriers to walking in residential areas. Methods: Data was collected about the impacts of two large roads in London, using a variety of methods. This data was then combined with the unit monetary values available from the literature: a) Traffic levels and speeds and pedestrian crossing delays were obtained by a video survey and combined with unit values for the health effects of air pollution and noise and for the walking time of trips to public transport nodes. b) The quality of the pedestrian environment was assessed using street audits. The resulting scores were combined with values from stated preference and hedonic studies of housing markets. c) A household survey provided information about averted walking trips and social contacts due to road traffic. This data was combined with values for the effects on health, social exclusion, and social capital. Results: The estimated values for the overall cost of the road are high, compared with those usually reported in transport appraisal studies. However, there is a high degree of variability in the estimated values, depending on the sources of the unit values of each impact. The analysis also revealed substantial differences between the values obtained in each study area, which are explained by differences in the characteristics of population and land use.
A. Taniguchi et al. / Journal of Transport & Health 3 (2016) S62–S78
S75
Conclusions: The accounting of the wider health and wellbeing costs of the presence of large roads in residential areas provides useful information for the appraisal of transport projects, which is often skewed towards the benefits from time savings. However, the use of predetermined unit values can yield unreliable results for the cost estimates, as these depend on local variables. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.05.024
P21 Roadway Intersection Characteristics and Pedestrian-Vehicle Collisions: Are They Related? Jasmin Kim UCLA, CA, USA
Abstract Background: As more and more megacities adopt “Vision Zero” policies to reduce transportation-related deaths, understanding the relationships between roadway characteristics and pedestrian safety is becoming critical. However, few studies reveal such relationships, particularly at or near signalized intersections, where pedestrian-vehicle collisions (PVCs) frequently occur. As such, this research measures the influences of multiple roadway intersection characteristics—such as the built environment, traffic control devices (TCDs), and socio-economic factors of intersection sites—on PVCs at or near intersections in Washington D.C. from 2010 to 2014. Methods: Using collision and roadway attribute data sets obtained from the District Department of Transportation and the U.S. Census, this research involves of four stages of analysis: 1. archival review of all PVCs, 2. spatial mapping of all PVCs that occurred ‘at or near intersections,’ 3. negative binomial regression estimation, and 4. field observations of seven intersections with the highest number of PVCs over pedestrian-demand index (PDI). The first stage will reveal when and where pedestrian-vehicle collisions happened, under what specific traffic, weather, roadway type, and lighting conditions the collisions happened, and how pedestrians were hit in the collisions. The following stages will then reveal any correlations or patterns that exist between PVCs and various roadway intersection characteristics through maps, regression analysis and field observation outputs. Results: Overall, the results of this study uncover some significant relationships between multiple roadway intersection characteristics— particularly, the presence of TCDs, bus stops, commercial and residential land uses, and certain socio-economic factors—and PVCs. While some factors were found to significantly increase the risks of PVCs on pedestrians, some were found to reduce such risks. Based on the results, some countermeasures are recommended to enhance pedestrian safety at roadway intersections. Conclusions: This study suggests that there is no magic bullet in enhancing pedestrian safety as pedestrians are exposed to numerous factors perhaps unaccounted for in this research. However, through innovative methodologies and research like this, cities can now explore which factors significantly disturb or enhance pedestrian safety and prioritize their investments to improve pedestrian safety at roadway intersections. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.05.025
PST-8 Active Travel - Health & Well-Being P22 Walking the Talk: Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Increase Underserved Communities' Capacity to Improve Pedestrian Safety Jaime Fearer 1, Kate Beck 2 1 2
California Walks, CA UC Berkeley, CA, USA
Abstract The Community Pedestrian Safety Training Program: A Partnership between Practitioners, Researchers, and Communities The Community Pedestrian Safety Training (CPST) Program was developed and operates through a partnership between Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) at UC Berkeley and California Walks, a statewide pedestrian policy and advocacy