Evaluation Of Pedestrian Sidewalk Utilisation In Residential Areas Of Bloemfontein City, South Africa

Abstract

The necessity of pedestrian-friendly environments is evident when looking at the multitude of benefits that it offers. These benefits include improved social integration, stimulating economic growth, and accessibility. The safety of pedestrians is not guaranteed, with a third of all road fatalities on South African roads being pedestrian fatalities. With the increased urbanisation among people from rural areas, there is a need for the development of safer non-motorised transport, especially because two-thirds of the population rely on walking as a mode of transport. In central areas of cities, effort has been done to enhance the walkability of the area, however, residential areas are often last on the list when it comes to the implementation of appropriate sidewalk infrastructure. It is observed that, although dangerous, pedestrians in residential areas increasingly use the roadway for walking. Sidewalks form an integral part of efforts to facilitate pedestrian access, which, in turn, support an effective and successful transportation network. This study examined the most essential attributes that contribute to the walkability of residential areas. More specifically, this study evaluated the factors contributing to the use or avoidance of sidewalks in residential areas. For this purpose, a case-study was performed in a residential area where the problem of pedestrians using the roadway was identified to be quite severe. To this end, the residential area of Universitas in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa was selected. A survey research methodology was followed, where data was collected through questionnaires and physical surveys. This study also employed a Conjoint Analysis technique, which is a multivariate technique used to understand an individual’s preference, in order to identify the levels of importance with regards to sidewalk attributes. The Conjoint Analysis was used to objectively identify and categorise sidewalk attributes (walkable width, number of obstacles, walking surface, and changes in elevation) that contribute to the use or avoidance of sidewalks. The findings revealed that attributes such as walkable width and the number of obstacles are significant parameters which influence the use of sidewalks in residential areas. Furthermore, the results revealed the relative importance of each evaluated attribute, which provided valuable insight into the prioritisation and possible budget allocation towards these attributes when it comes to the development of walkability. Finally, the Conjoint Analysis results were evaluated against pedestrians’ genuine willingness to make use of selected sidewalks within the study area. The evaluation revealed that the utility values produced by the Conjoint Analysis could be used to predict how likely it is that a pedestrian would use a specific sidewalk. Additionally, other significant concerns influencing neighbourhood walkability, such as personal safety and conflict with motorised traffic, were also identified by respondents. The results and findings of this study were used to recommend alternative planning and design guidelines that contribute to the development of walkability in residential areas. It is envisaged that, if the plausible recommended planning and design guidelines are implemented, the walkability of the study area will improve substantially.