Yutaka IGARASHI

Effectiveness Analysis of Improvement of Sidewalks on Pedestriansf Behavior

Syouji MATSUMOTO,Kazushi SANO

The study examines the effectiveness of pavement improvement of sidewalks on pedestriansf action using both video images of walking pedestrians and their attitude or preference to sidewalks. Video camera and questionnaire surveys were conducted in the central area of Nagaoka, Niigata. Effectiveness is measured by numerical indicators such as average speed, speed distribution, and entanglement of walking pedestrians comparing between an old sidewalk and a newly improved sidewalk. In addition to the physical indicators, the questionnaire survey shows that walking pedestrians express good preference and easiness to the improvement of pavement. The study combines the two kinds of methods to evaluate the effectiveness of sidewalks. Finally it reveals that the aged people express their stronger needs of locating ga benchh on the sidewalk.