Planning for Better Skywalk Systems Using Perception of Pedestrians: Case Study of Mumbai, India

The aim of the current study was to identify the critical factors influencing the use of pedestrian skywalk facilities in an Indian context. An interviewer-administered questionnaire survey was conducted to understand the perceptions of pedestrians using the skywalks under existing conditions. The forward stepwise binary logistic regression method was used to identify the potential factors influencing pedestrian preference for using the skywalks in the current scenario. The study revealed that the majority of users were male students and servicemen, age category 13-45 years, who used the skywalk for educational trips or work. Model results revealed that available width, obstructions, safety and security, walk environment, and age are the factors which mostly influence the perception of the skywalk usability. Respondent responses about future usability showed that installation and maintenance of elevators/escalators/ramps, improvement of security, regular maintenance, and removal of obstructions, could influence pedestrian prioritization of such facilities in the future. The outcomes of the study can help planners, engineers, and designers to evaluate the current status of skywalk facilities as well as provide indicators for a coherent solution to encourage greater use of such elevated facilities.