PREFERENCES OF PEDESTRIANS ON ROAD CROSSING FACILITIES

A RESEARCH PAPER
Presented to
the Faculty of the Engineering, Aviation and Architecture
UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM LAGUNA
Biñan City, Laguna

In partial fulfillment
of the course requirements for the degree
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

BULTRON, John Rodolfo R.

DOLLENTE, Rommel H.
ORIONDO, Gene Alexander A.
PAGANA, Nelson Jr. G.
PANALIGAN, Rafael Angelo E.

September 2019
Title:
Preferences of Pedestrians on Road Crossing Facilities

Introduction

The rapid growth of vehicles worldwide has led to the traffic dominance of urban streets

making pedestrians deal on the riskiest part of road. In order to cross the roads safely, people use

road crossing facilities such as crosswalks, underpass, overpass and footbridges. In the

Philippines, common facilities are signalized and unsignalized pedestrian lanes, overpass and

footbridges. However, some crossing facilities do not necessarily ease road crossing on busy

roads and streets. There is evidence that some types of facilities are generally disliked by

pedestrians, which leads to a high incidence of informal road crossing behavior, away from

crossing facilities (Demiroz, Onelcin, & Alver, 2015; Obeng-Atuah, Poku-Boansi, & Cobbinah,

2017; Sinclair & Zuidgeest, 2016). Therefore, planning and constructing of new facilities or

improvement of the existing facilities requires an understanding of the preference of the

pedestrian’s willingness and negligence to walk to access them.

The Land Transportation and Traffic Code (Republic Act 4136) requires drivers to let

pedestrians cross the road, as long as they are within a pedestrian lane but the problem is

that pasaway pedestrians cause so much trouble on the road just as kamote drivers do.

Jaywalkers cause more than half of road accidents in Metro Manila according to Metropolitan

Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The researchers seek to know the preferences of the pedestrians upon road crossing and

the reason for their choice of road facilities. In this study, the researchers have chosen the most
common road crossing facilities in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa City, namely, pedestrian lane and

overpass. Also, the researchers considered pedestrians not using both facilities.

Background of the Study

In this particular study, identifying the proficiency and usage of different

road crossing facilities and the reasons why the some pedestrians have decided to use or not to

use each type of road facility present in the areas of Sta. Rosa and Biñan, Laguna is the main

objective. Negligence of proper road facilities leads to road traffic incidents. In an article by Top

Gear Philippines, MMDA stated that the most dangerous month last year was October which

topped out at 10,407 recorded traffic incidents while the deadliest month was December that

constituted 38 fatalities. Hit-and-run incidents topped out at 4,490 for the whole year 2018 while

141 pedestrians were killed. The researchers will conduct the study on the time frame which

gives the most dangerous quarter of the year, from October to the start of December. The

researchers aim to provide engineering solutions and interventions toward road safety after

conducting the study by the results of the research.

Statement of the Problem

The main objective of the study is to determine the preference of pedestrians on

road crossing facilities the reasons why the respondents do not use any of the present road

facilities.

This study aims to answer the following sub-problems:

1. What do pedestrians prefer in crossing the roads, safety or convenience?

2. What are the reasons why pedestrians use/do not use road crossing facilities?
 3. Why do pedestrians commit jaywalking?

4. What road crossing facility is mostly used in the area?

5. What do pedestrians prefer, overpass or pedestrian lane?

Research Methodology

The primary sources of the data are the pedestrians crossing the roads in selected areas

which will be the respondents for this study. Other sources of data are journals and past studies

related to the study. The population of the study will be composed of random people crossing

selected roads that will be surveyed. The research will use a questionnaire for the purpose of

collecting the needed primary data. The researchers will be surveying some of the respondents to

gather more data too. The researchers will be counting the pedestrians that will use each road

crossing facility and possibly, jaywalkers directly to have statistical data for the comparison of

the chosen subject.

In the process of gathering data, participants will be asked for consent to conduct a

survey through personal interview. The researchers will also ask for permission to record and

take photos throughout the entire interview. Researchers will also inform the participants that

their personal information or identity will remain confidential and content of each individual

interview will be discussed within the researchers’ group and supervisor. Researchers will

conduct personal interview on traffic enforcers too.

References:

Demiroz, Y. I., Onelcin, P., & Alver, Y. (2015). Illegal road crossing behavior of pedestrians at

overpass locations: Factors affecting gap acceptance, crossing times and overpass use.
 Accident Analysis and Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2015.04.018

Obeng-Atuah, D., Poku-Boansi, M., & Cobbinah, P. B. (2017). Pedestrian crossing in urban

Ghana: Safety implications. Journal of Transport and Health.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.06.007

Sinclair, M., & Zuidgeest, M. (2016). Investigations into pedestrian crossing choices on Cape

Town freeways. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2015.07.006

Wu, Y., Lu, J., Chen, H., & Wu, L. (2014). Identification of contributing factors to pedestrian

overpass selection. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English Edition).

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-7564(15)30291-9

Anciaes, P. R., & Jones, P. (2018). Estimating preferences for different types of pedestrian

crossing facilities. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2017.11.025