Why People Cross Where They Do: The Role of Street Environment

The role of the street environment in the way people cross roads in urban settings is modeled. Respondents were placed in real traffic conditions at the curbside of street blocks in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area for 3-min observations of the street environments. Without crossing the blocks, respondents stated their crossing preference at each of six blocks. The origin and destination of each crossing were hypothetically set and varied across the blocks. So were the options available: two options for crossing at an intersection and up to four options for crossing at midblock locations. Within the framework of discrete choice models, the stated preferences are explained with the street environment, including traffic conditions, roadway characteristics, and signal-control characteristics. All three components of the street environment are considered: midblock locations, intersections, and roadside environment. The data are described; a nested logit model of pedestrian street-crossing behavior is estimated; and its implications to researchers and practitioners are discussed.