Evaluation of Pedestrian Level of Service of Selected Footpath Segments of Dhaka City Using Multi-criteria Decision Making Approach

Walking is considered to be the most important mode of travel across the world particularly for a shortdistance trip Since 19 6 of the trips are made by the foot in Dhaka it is necessary to ensure a friendly walking environment in the footpath for the welfare of pedestrians of Dhaka This study aims to make a comparative analysis of Pedestrian Level of Service PLOS of selected footpath segments along Segun Bagicha road Toynbee Circular Road Mirpur Road and Baily road Pedestrian Level of Service has been determined based on ten factors path width pedestrian volume crossing facilities availability of buffer distance from vehicular traffic surface quality comfort walking environment the existence of street light The weight of each factor has been determined through the Multi-criteria analysis approach Analytical Hierarchy Process Path width Pedestrian volume and the existence of buffer are the first second and third most important factors PLOS has been determined based on the indexed value of factors and weight of factors All the sections were found to have poor PLOS The findings of the study will be helpful for transport policymakers to improve the condition of these factors to ensure a better walking condition for pedestrians of selected footpath section

Analysis of Modality and Trip Chaining Patterns in Dhaka

This study explores the modality and trip chaining patterns of individuals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We use household-level trip data for a day collected from randomly selected respondents of the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan area. We found that walking and rickshaw are the dominant modes of travel. The majority of individuals are unimodal and mostly depend on either walking or on rickshaws. Individuals generally walk for the first and last-mile connections to public transit. Cars are used more for non-home-based business trips. Personalized modes such as cars, cycles, and motorcycles are present at a higher proportion in the super complex trip chain than other types of chains

Exploring the Choice of Bicycling and Walking in Rajshahi, Bangladesh: An Application of Integrated Choice and Latent Variable (ICLV) Models

Bangladesh has emphasized active transportation in its transportation policies and has encouraged its population, especially the youth and students, towards bicycling. However, there is a scarcity of studies that have examined the factors important to the choice of active transportation that can be referenced to support the initiative. To address this research gap, in this study, we explore the influence of sociodemographics and latent perceptions of a built environment on the choice to walk and bicycle among students and nonstudents in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. In Rajshahi, we conducted a household survey between July and August, 2017. We used a modeling framework that integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) models to effectively incorporate the latent perception variables in the choice model, addressing measurement error and endogeneity bias. Our models show that students are influenced by perceptions of safety from crime, while nonstudents are influenced by their perceptions of the walkability of a built environment when choosing a bicycle for commuting trips. For recreational bicycle trips, students are more concerned about the perceptions of road safety, whereas nonstudents are concerned about safety from crime. We find that road safety perception significantly and positively influences walking behavior among nonstudents. Structural equation models of the latent perception variables show that females are more likely to provide lower perceptions of neighborhood walkability, road safety, and safety from crime. Regarding active transportation decisions, overall, we find there is a difference between student and nonstudent groups and also within these groups. The findings of this study can assist in developing a sustainable active transportation system by addressing the needs of different segments of the population. In this study, we also provide recommendations regarding promoting active transportation in Rajshahi

Effects of Road Collisions on the Travel Behavior of Vulnerable Groups:Expert Interview Findings

We interviewed eight subject-matter experts in California in 2023 tounderstand how travel behavior and priorities may change in response to direct experience with road collisions. Expertsrepresented a variety of perspectives, including medical doctors, advocates for active transportation safety, and advocates for people with disabilities. Their diverse specialties enabled us to capture a variety of concerns without triggering emotionally sensitive areas for people who have directly experienced road collisions. These experts identified common themes, including mental stress from the prospect of returning to driving—especially on freeways, lesser incidence of long-term changes in travel modes after experiencing a collision, dependence on others for rides in private vehicles, and changing routes or times of day of travel when traveling independently. These experts also explained how people’s mode choices are also affected by general concerns about collisions in the news more than by specific personal experiences with near misses. Interview subjects’ spoke of more specific concerns as well. These included but were not limited to, bicyclists using sidewalks instead of bike lanes when both are present, feeling stigmatized from using public transit or paratransit after experiencing a collision, and concerns with motorists treating bicyclists badly. These initial interviewsclarify areas of focus and methodology for future qualitative and quantitative studies on the intersection oftransportation safety and travel behavior change, particularly as they involve people who have directly experienced road collisions