Evaluation of Pedestrian Crossings Based on the Concept of Pedestrian Behavior Regarding Start-Up Time: Integrated Fuzzy MCDM Model

Planning, designing, defining relevant parameters, and managing traffic represent essential characteristics of its sustainability and safety. However, one of the key characteristics that traffic planners and managers cannot always influence are the characteristics of vehicle and pedestrian traffic flows. Namely, pedestrian behavior, as well as driver behavior, depend on numerous factors, which are influenced by the characteristics of the road, the environment, and socio-economic characteristics. Pedestrians are the most heterogeneous group of traffic participants for whom there are no specific restrictions or conditions, as is the case for drivers. In complex traffic conditions and high traffic loads, the behavior of pedestrians can affect traffic conditions, that is, the level of service. The most complex traffic conditions for pedestrians occur at surface intersections where a limited traffic area - pedestrian crossing, is used by both vehicles and pedestrians, in accordance with traffic regulation and general traffic rules. This paper defines the goal of determining the concept of pedestrian behavior at pedestrian crossings in different cities based on start-up time classified by gender and age groups. Intersections with counters showing pedestrian phase times and those without counters were specifically considered. A novel integrated fuzzy MCDM (Multi-criteria decision-making) model was created to evaluate and rank cities based on start-up time. Fuzzy FUCOM (Full Consistency Method) was used to determine the weights of criteria, while Fuzzy ROV (Range of Value) was used to evaluate and rank cities. Different models were created on a sample of ten thousand pedestrians, segmented by gender and age, for which different results were obtained through analysis. In order to verify the results, sensitivity analysis, comparative analysis, and calculated statistical correlation tests were presented. The results presented are reflected in the following. Female pedestrians in Novi Sad show a higher level of concentration and carefully observe the moment when the pedestrian signal turns green when there is no counter. Doboj represents the city with the best start-up time for pedestrian crossings with counters, while Sarajevo holds that position for crossings without counters. It is important to point out that the sample of female pedestrians shows exceptional results on the same type of pedestrian crossings, as the start-up time is around one second.