Exploring the role of arterial roads characteristics on pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.

The influence of arterial roads on crashes is well-documented when considering all road users but has become more notorious when considering   Vulnerable Road Users (VUR). Previous studies have highlighted the significance of factors such as the built environment, land use, road characteristics, and socioeconomic conditions of the road to be particularly associated with VUR crash frequency. However, limited research has delved into the collective influence of these factors, making it difficult to understand how they all relate to the high rates of pedestrians and bicyclists’ crashes on arterial roads. This study explores the relationship between arterial roads’ features and its surroundings with the occurrence of crashes, particularly for pedestrian and cyclist in New Mexico (NM). NM makes a proper case study for this research given its high rates of fatality per capita for bicyclist and pedestrians compared to any other state in the U.S. Hence, this study aims to answer the following research questions: 1) whether high-speed, high-access roads are more likely to experience crashes than roads with better access management and/or slower speeds. The findings from this inquiry will enlighten the subsequent questions: 2) Do more driveways per mile correlate to more non-motorized crashes per mile? and 3) What other factors related to arterials-built environment, characteristics, and demographics spatially correlate with a higher likelihood of pedestrian and bicycle crashes? To answer these questions the study uses spatial techniques and statistical models to find the relationship of the aforementioned variables with the crash frequency. We do so, using seven years (2012-2019) of crash data from the NM DOT and information related to arterials’ operational and physical characteristics, surrounding land uses, and socioeconomics variables provided by Middle Region Counselor of Government (MRCOG) and the City of Albuquerque. The study's outcomes will pinpoint the most influential arterial road features contributing to VUR crashes, as well as the socioeconomic and land use factors that play a pivotal role. This newfound insight holds the potential to inform the planning of future projects and interventions, with a particular focus on areas characterized by elevated risk levels for VUR, contributing to enhanced road safety.