Pedestrians’ Perceptions of Motorized Traffic in Suburban–Rural Areas of a Metropolitan Region: Exploring Measurement Perspectives

TL;DR

This study explores how motorized traffic factors like noise and vehicle speed affect pedestrians' perceptions of safety and willingness to walk in suburban and rural areas.

Contribution

The study identifies noise as a key hindrance to walking and reveals indirect effects of vehicle speed on pedestrian perceptions through noise mediation.

Findings

Noise was the strongest negative predictor of pedestrians' willingness to walk.

Vehicle speed indirectly affected perceptions of traffic safety and walking stimulation via noise mediation.

Reducing vehicle speed could lower noise levels and improve pedestrian experiences.

Abstract

Background: Since World War II, the number of motorized vehicles has increased dramatically. Yet, few studies have evaluated how perceptions of single and multiple motorized traffic variables, in different combinations, influence pedestrians’ appraisals of the route environment in relation to whether it facilitates or deters walking. We have previously illuminated this in an inner urban area of a metropolitan region. This study aims to scrutinize these matters in the suburban–rural parts of the same metropolitan area. For comparative reasons, we use the same methods as used for the inner urban area. Our hypothesis is that these kinds of perceptions, to some extent, may be context-specific. Methods: Relations between pedestrians’ perceptions of motorized traffic variables (flow and speeds of motor vehicles, noise, and exhaust fumes) and combinations of them, as well as if appraisals of route environments hinder–stimulate walking and are unsafe–safe for reasons of traffic, have been evaluated. This was studied in the suburban and rural areas of Greater Stockholm, Sweden. The pedestrians (n = 233) rated their route environment with the Active Commuting Route Environment Scale (ACRES). Correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were used to study the relationships. Results: The regression analyses showed that noise was the primary negative predictor variable in relation to hindering–stimulating walking. With respect to the other outcome, unsafe–safe traffic, none of the variables had a significant relation. The mediation analyses showed that (1) vehicle speed had an indirect effect on unsafe–safe traffic via noise, (2) both vehicle speed and vehicle flow had, via noise, indirect effects on hinders–stimulates walking, and (3) vehicle speed had, via vehicle flow, an indirect effect on noise and exhaust fumes. Conclusions: In suburban–rural route environments, noise protrudes as a hindering variable for walking. The mediation analyses showed that vehicle speed intensified noise and had negative effects on both outcomes. Therefore, by reducing vehicle speed, noise levels will be lowered, and the walking experience is likely to be enhanced, which can influence the amount of walking. The results are further illuminated through the exploration of existing and potential future research strategies.

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