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Shared space : Motorists’ perspective

Wallén Warner, H. ; Johnsson, C. LU orcid ; Andersson, J. and Laureshyn, A. LU orcid (2024) In Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 106. p.276-287
Abstract

Background: Shared spaces are intended to constitute an attractive urban space for everyone by blending protected and unprotected road users. However, our previous study showed that pedestrians prefer the traditional division between protected and unprotected road users, at the same time as elderly pedestrians focused less on traffic when the division was recreated by large flowerpots. Objective: This follow-up study aimed to examine the effects of external factors, such as alternative design and pedestrian density, on motorists’ subjective experiences, and the speed and placement of their vehicles within a shared space. Methods: To investigate this, Q-methodology was used to examine 32 motorists’ subjective experiences, and video... (More)

Background: Shared spaces are intended to constitute an attractive urban space for everyone by blending protected and unprotected road users. However, our previous study showed that pedestrians prefer the traditional division between protected and unprotected road users, at the same time as elderly pedestrians focused less on traffic when the division was recreated by large flowerpots. Objective: This follow-up study aimed to examine the effects of external factors, such as alternative design and pedestrian density, on motorists’ subjective experiences, and the speed and placement of their vehicles within a shared space. Methods: To investigate this, Q-methodology was used to examine 32 motorists’ subjective experiences, and video recordings were analysed to measure the speed and placement of 150 vehicles on Fisherman's Square in Västervik, Sweden, both without (75 vehicles) and with (75 vehicles) large flowerpots deployed. Results: The motorists preferred when the large flowerpots were deployed to recreate the traditional division. The results also showed that both the large flowerpots and high pedestrian density decreased vehicles’ mean maximum speed. The deployment of large flowerpots also decreased the distribution of vehicles over the square. Conclusion: Recreating some type of division between protected and unprotected road users appears to be preferred. Further studies are required to ascertain whether this solution works for all road user groups, including cyclists and e-scooter riders.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Motorists, Pedestrian density, Shared space, Speed, Subjective experience, Vehicle placement
in
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
volume
106
pages
12 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85201594718
ISSN
1369-8478
DOI
10.1016/j.trf.2024.07.010
project
Shared space: Interaction between different road user categories
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2f20112c-e90e-4420-bf25-e4dd265a1041
date added to LUP
2024-10-30 12:26:10
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:38:46
@article{2f20112c-e90e-4420-bf25-e4dd265a1041,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Shared spaces are intended to constitute an attractive urban space for everyone by blending protected and unprotected road users. However, our previous study showed that pedestrians prefer the traditional division between protected and unprotected road users, at the same time as elderly pedestrians focused less on traffic when the division was recreated by large flowerpots. Objective: This follow-up study aimed to examine the effects of external factors, such as alternative design and pedestrian density, on motorists’ subjective experiences, and the speed and placement of their vehicles within a shared space. Methods: To investigate this, Q-methodology was used to examine 32 motorists’ subjective experiences, and video recordings were analysed to measure the speed and placement of 150 vehicles on Fisherman's Square in Västervik, Sweden, both without (75 vehicles) and with (75 vehicles) large flowerpots deployed. Results: The motorists preferred when the large flowerpots were deployed to recreate the traditional division. The results also showed that both the large flowerpots and high pedestrian density decreased vehicles’ mean maximum speed. The deployment of large flowerpots also decreased the distribution of vehicles over the square. Conclusion: Recreating some type of division between protected and unprotected road users appears to be preferred. Further studies are required to ascertain whether this solution works for all road user groups, including cyclists and e-scooter riders.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wallén Warner, H. and Johnsson, C. and Andersson, J. and Laureshyn, A.}},
  issn         = {{1369-8478}},
  keywords     = {{Motorists; Pedestrian density; Shared space; Speed; Subjective experience; Vehicle placement}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{276--287}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour}},
  title        = {{Shared space : Motorists’ perspective}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2024.07.010}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.trf.2024.07.010}},
  volume       = {{106}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}