An Examination of Pedestrian Crossing Behaviors at Signalized Intersections with Bus Priority Routes

Public transport is an integral part of sustainable urban development when its use is promoted by setting bus priority routes (BPRs). BPRs provide clear mobility benefits, but they raise pedestrian safety concerns. In this study, observations were conducted at signalized intersections with two types of BPRs, center-lane and curbside, aiming to characterize pedestrian crossing behaviors, with a particular focus on red-light crossings. We found that at intersections with center-lane BPRs, 30% of pedestrians crossed at least one crosswalk on red, while at another type, 11% crossed on red. Multivariate analyses showed that the risk of crossing on red was substantially higher at intersections with center-lane vs. curbside BPRs; it was also higher among pedestrians crossing to/from the bus stop, males, and young people but lower under the presence of other waiting pedestrians. Furthermore, among pedestrians crossing on red at center-lane BPRs, over 10% did not check the traffic before crossing and another 10% checked the traffic in the wrong direction, thus further increasing the risk. At center-lane BPRs, infrastructure solutions are needed to reduce pedestrian intention to cross on red. Additionally, education and awareness programs for pedestrians should be promoted to emphasize the heightened risk of red-light crossing at intersections with BPRs.