2013 Session: 208

• Urban Environments, Pedestrian Friendliness, and Crossing Decisions
  Abstract: The objective of this experimental study is to identify the differentiation made by pedestrians between various urban environments, notably in terms of perception of walking pleasantness and safety, and from the point of view of road crossing decision. This experiment further aims to identify the environmental features that pedestrians use and the inferences they develop to explain their road crossing decision. Sets of five photographs presenting five different environments (city center, inner suburbs, public housing in the outskirts, commercial zone in the outskirts and countryside) have been presented to 77 participants shared in three age groups (pre-adolescents, young and middle adults). Their decision to cross or not, their perception of pleasantness and safety and the elements they take into account to take a decision were collected for each environment presented. The results show the pedestrians’ perceptions of the pleasantness and safety of public spaces, in terms of walking, largely vary with urban environments and the crossing decision significantly varies according to the environment. Pedestrians crossed significantly more in city center than in the other sites presented. Presence and function of the buildings and quality of the sidewalks are key factors to explain their crossing decision, by enabling them to infer the density of pedestrians and traffic and vehicle speed.
  Authors: Montel, Marie-Claude; Brenac, Thierry; Granié, Marie-Axelle; Millot, Marine; Coquelet, Cécile
  Authors: Montel, Marie-Claude; Brenac, Thierry; Granié, Marie-Axelle; Millot, Marine; Coquelet, Cécile
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-1143
• Why Do We Tend to Drive Faster and Follow Vehicles Closer Than We Should in an Underground Road?
  Abstract: A driver maybe diminishes his sensitivity to speed gradually because of lack of variation in visual scenery in a long underground road and he tends to drive a vehicle faster and follow a vehicle closer than he should do unconsciously. This paper focuses on mechanism analysis of vehicle operating characteristics affected by visual environment in urban underground road based on information load. CONTENTS: 1) Comparing differences of vehicle velocity maintaining and headway estimating in different road environment; 2) Calculating driver visual information load level from diver¡¯s vision scene; 3) Mechanism analysis of driving behaviors affected by visual environment; 4) Taking technical measures to satisfy driver visual requirements in underground road environment. DATA: vehicle velocity, headway and diver¡¯s vision scene. METHODS: 1) Revealing differences of vehicle operating characteristics in different traffic environment with naturalistic driving; 2) Studying the influence mechanism based on theoretical calculation. 3) Proposing measures to improve urban underground traffic security on driving simulator.
  Authors: Chen, Yuren; Cai, Yang; Wang, Jie; Zeng, Xueke
  Authors: Chen, Yuren; Cai, Yang; Wang, Jie; Zeng, Xueke
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-2582
• Historic Streetscape Lighting: Integration of Aesthetic Concerns with Modern Technology
  Abstract: Street lighting can contribute significantly to the visual environment of a historic downtown. Lighting technologies used in modern street lighting systems are very different from those used in street lighting a century ago. The present paper compares the lamps, luminaires and design approaches used for street lighting when it was first introduced to those of the present day. Also provided are some preliminary considerations for the selection of lighting equipment to optimize the benefits of historic streetscape lighting in terms of safety, context sensitivity and historic compatibility, against the costs of street lighting in terms of equipment, energy, maintenance and light pollution concerns. Carefully designed street lighting can be an important component of maintaining historic character as well as contributing to safety in historic downtowns.
  Authors: Bullough, Sloane D.; Bullough, John D.
  Authors: Bullough, Sloane D.; Bullough, John D.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-4142
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Evaluating Traveler Preferences and Values for Public Rest Areas
  Abstract: Public rest areas provide a safe and convenient location for travelers in need of basic services. Commercial service facilities provide services that are beyond those found at rest areas, but are generally less convenient due to their location off of the limited access freeway system. In an effort to better understand why travelers choose a public rest area as opposed to an alternative commercial service facility, a comprehensive survey was conducted at public rest areas throughout Michigan. A companion survey was also performed at large commercial travel centers (i.e., truck stops) for comparison purposes. A total of 2,831 survey responses were obtained at the 15 rest areas and traveler information centers, with an additional 656 responses obtained at two truck stops. The results of the survey showed that rest area patrons preferred rest areas when it was necessary to use the restroom or when needing a short break, primarily due to the quick and convenient access from the highway. Patrons at truck stops indicated a general shift in preference towards the use of commercial facilities, although rest areas were preferred for several common services, including: restroom use, short break, pet relief, and taking a break for children. The median value of services provided at a standard rest area was $1.68 compared to $2.21 at traveler information centers. Rest area services were valued highest by older patrons, frequent rest area users, patrons traveling with pets, and motorists who had been on the road for more than 2 hours. Although drivers of commercial vehicles were nearly 7 times more like to use a rest area more than once per week, they tended to be less satisfied and indicated a lower value of services.
  Authors: Todd, Ryan G.; Gates, Timothy J.; Savolainen, Peter Tarmo
  Authors: Todd, Ryan G.; Gates, Timothy J.; Savolainen, Peter Tarmo
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-4049
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Urban Environments, Pedestrian Friendliness, and Crossing Decisions
  Authors: Granie, Marie-Axelle
  Authors: Granie, Marie-Axelle
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-1143
• Why Do We Tend to Drive Faster and Follow Vehicles Closer Than We Should in an Underground Road?
  Authors: Cai, Yang
  Authors: Cai, Yang
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-2582
• Evaluating Traveler Preferences and Values for Public Rest Areas
  Authors: Gates, Timothy
  Authors: Gates, Timothy
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-4049
• Historic Streetscape Lighting: Integration of Aesthetic Concerns with Modern Technology
  Authors: Bullough, Sloane
  Authors: Bullough, Sloane
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Environment; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 208
  Paper Number: 13-4142