Assessing Qualitative Factors of Pedestrian Bridges Over Major Arterials in a Developing Country

Many developing nations have serious challenges due to traffic accidents, which can result in financial and health losses. Pedestrian safety is an important issue, particularly in areas like Pakistan where there are a lot of traffic accidents. Being the biggest metropolis and commercial hub of Pakistan, Karachi experiences a lot of traffic accidents, especially ones involving pedestrians. This study is to evaluate pedestrian bridges on important arterial routes in Karachi, such as University Road, MA Jinnah Road, Rashid Minhas Road, and Sharah e Faisal.

The primary goal of the study is to gather and evaluate information about Karachi's pedestrian bridges and their safety, as well as suggest preventative strategies to decrease pedestrian accidents. The study's purview encompasses a range of qualitative aspects, including location, appropriateness, condition, and safety levels, that affect how pedestrian bridges are used. Additionally, it investigates the reasons why people don't use pedestrian bridges and investigates possible fixes to encourage more people to use them. A questionnaire survey was conducted as part of the data collection process, which focused on impressions of the safety and location of the bridge, pedestrian behavior, and demographics. The survey provided information about pedestrian behaviors, including the respondents' age, gender, and level of education, as well as their forms of transportation and the existence of any illnesses that would limit their mobility.

Based on the results, different pedestrian bridges are used for different purposes. These characteristics include location, peak hours, complexity of use, and availability of alternatives. Policymakers and urban planners can greatly benefit from the thorough understanding of pedestrian bridge usage dynamics provided in this research to improve pedestrian safety and bridge utilization in Karachi.