Effects of installing a marked crosswalk on road crossing behaviour and perceptions of the environment

A two-pronged study was conducted to investigate (a) pedestrians’ road-crossing behaviour and (b) perceptions of the walking environment, both before and after the installation of a marked crosswalk (zebra crossing) at a single case-study location in Edinburgh, UK. The observational and questionnaire surveys indicated that: (a) pedestrians were significantly more likely to use the location to cross the road, waited significantly less time to cross, and walked significantly more slowly after the zebra had been installed compared with before; and (b) people felt safer, less vulnerable to traffic and more confident when crossing the road after the zebra had been installed. The results indicate that installing a marked crosswalk such as a zebra crossing can significantly enhance the road-crossing experience of pedestrians and therefore improve the walking journey more broadly.

► The influence of a zebra crossing on behaviour and perceptions.
► The crossing location was used more when the zebra was installed.
► The zebra crossing reduced both observed and perceived waiting time.
► The zebra crossing increased feeling of safety and decreased vulnerability to traffic.