Road crossing behavior of pedestrians at unsignalised intersection of Dhaka city

Abstract

Pedestrians’ road crossings behavior in Bangladesh has become a major concern in road traffic flow, especially in urban areas where there are no controls for pedestrians’ road crossing. With the increase of motor vehicles growth rate, there is an increase in the regulation of motor vehicles on the road but the regulation of pedestrians is completely neglected. In Dhaka, the capital of the developing country Bangladesh, pedestrians increase their accident risk when they decide to cross the road without using the existing road crossing facilities. The main objective of this study is to investigate the pedestrians’ road crossing behavior at the uncontrolled intersection in Dhaka city under mixed traffic condition. A field survey was carried out at two uncontrolled intersections in Dhaka city- one at Central Shahid Minar (CSM) and another at Doyel Chattar (DC). CSM intersection is a T intersection having three arms and width of north-west (NW) and south-east (SE) arms are 50 feet and north-east (NE) arm is 33 feet. There is no central median at NW arm. The DC intersection is a roundabout having four arms and width of west and north arms are 50 feet and east and south arms are 40 feet. There is no central median at west and south arms of DC intersection. A video observation and a questionnaire survey were conducted among the pedestrians who cross the selected areas. 505 pedestrians at CSM and 1511 pedestrians at DC have been observed through video graphic method. From this observation, it is found that 80.40% pedestrians at CSM and 77.50% pedestrians at DC do not use existing road crossing facilities. 82.34% male, 63.46% female at CSM and 79.57% male, 65.30% female at DC do not use existing road crossing facilities. Questionnaire survey has been done in 100 pedestrians at CSM and 150 pedestrians at DC roundabout. The reasons for pedestrians not to use road crossing facilities are lack of awareness (35% at CSM and 6% at DC), unsuitable locations (21.67% at CSM and 33% at DC), time consuming (15% at CSM and 8% at DC), no lighting facilities at night (3.33% at CSM), insufficient security (1.67% at CSM), both time consuming and unsuitable location (13.33% at CSM and 38% at DC) etc. To improve this situation, several steps should be taken such as construction of pedestrians and median barriers at each arm of CSM T intersection and DC roundabout, no parking zone should be allowed at entrance and exit of both intersections, center median has to be constructed on north-west arm of CSM and on west and south arms of DC roundabout, enhancing lighting facilities at SE approach of CSM intersection, constructing underpass or foot over bridge at CSM intersection, pedestrians warning signs should be installed.