Analysing the impact of socio-economic variables, travel characteristics, and psychological factors on the selection of crossing facilities under time pressure

Examining the utilization of pedestrian crossing infrastructure under time pressure is crucial due to its profound impact on pedestrian safety and decision-making. This study addresses this gap by investigating pedestrian crossing preferences under temporal constraints, introducing time pressure as a novel aspect in the existing literature, particularly in the context of developing countries. Additionally, this research advances existing studies by incorporating attitudinal and perception-related variables, including income level, walking behaviour, and perceived walking speed. The research was conducted in Bhopal city, India, focusing on three junctions (New market, Bagsewania, and M.P Nagar). A total of 613 pedestrians were surveyed to develop a discrete choice model and identify the main factors influencing their selection of crossing facilities under time pressure. The findings reveal that the socio-economic variables (age, income), travel behaviour, and psychological factors (risk perception, perceived convenience) significantly influence choice of crossing infrastructure under time pressure. Furthermore, it was found that aged individuals, those with higher incomes, and individuals perceiving elevated crash risks tend to favour subways. Conversely, routine walkers with lower crash risk perceptions lean towards direct crossings. These nuanced findings provide transportation planners and policymakers with crucial insights into pedestrian behaviour under time pressure, guiding the development of more effective and targeted interventions.