Safety measures for improving urban pedestrian network in Pasir Gudang

Abstract

Pedestrian safety is the primary concern in designing and managing street crossings. Crossings that are safe, easy to use and well-marked support pedestrianfriendly environments and link both sides of the street physically and visually. This study explores the problem of pedestrian situation in Pasir Gudang City Center and the possibility of improving its safety. Current research aims to analyse problems that pedestrians have within a specific area in Pasir Gudang and thereafter propose changes in the physical design of streets to improve the pedestrians’ safety and accessibility. Therefore, this particular research evaluates security, comfort, continence and efficiency and affordability aspects of the crosswalk that would be influencing the attraction of pedestrians to a place. The study indicates that there are various factors that affect the pedestrians’ safety at the studied site. The factors that mainly affect the pedestrians’ safety is the high speed of motorized vehicles, the high share of car drivers driving against red and that most car drivers ignore their obligation to give priority to pedestrians at an unprotected pedestrian crossing. For doing the above, the site was selected based on pedestrian traffic volumes, pedestrian crossing treatment, and roadway characteristics. For evaluating the problems of Pasir Gudang City Center related pedestrian crossing, the site in mentioned city was observed and conflict points were found according to pedestrian and vehicle flow. Observations were carried out during the week to determine the frequency of the usability of the pedestrian crossing in the two zones. Since in Pasir Gudang City Center there is a lake of safeness for pedestrians. Changes in the physical design are thereafter proposed in order to prevent the car drivers’ incorrectly behavior and to facilitate for pedestrians.