Identifying Locations for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Improvements in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, North Carolina
Source: University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center
The objective of the present study was to identify areas with potential hazards for pedestrians and bicyclists to aid in prioritizing safety improvements. Crash factor analysis and spatial analysis of crash data were supplemented with proactive methods to identify potentially unsafe locations that may not have experienced crashes yet. Five years of pedestrian and bicycle crash data were obtained for the study area, which included Chapel Hill and Carrboro, North Carolina. A survey was conducted with 400 respondents who regularly travel in the area in order to identify locations perceived to be unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. The crash locations and the perceived risk locations resulting from the survey were entered into a GIS format and spatially analyzed and compared. Other proactive methods including intersection safety index ratings, speed studies, and other public input by way of various Town processes were also used to identify areas of potential concern. Roadway safety audits, which provide qualitative expert review of conditions, were conducted for eight comprehensive areas to identify problems and potential countermeasures.
