Pedestrian trips constitute a substantial portion of the total daily intra-central business district (CBD) journeys. As a consequence, conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles continue to be a major concern for transportation planners and engineers. CBDs are expected to expand in terms of persons employed and persons entering the area for business and social activities. Despite crackdowns on jaywalking and extensive traffic management schemes, the number of pedestrian accidents in the Montreal CBD has remained virtually unchanged between 1985 and 1987. Analysis of available data pertaining to the montreal CBD suggests that more pedestrians involved in accidents are in the 20- to 29-yr-old category than in any other age group considered in the study. Over 40 percent of the accidents occur during the 12-6 p.m. period and 80 percent are within commercial land use areas. Very similar characteristics are evident in the accident statistics for the calgary CBD. The fact that almost 40 percent of the CBD pedestrians in calgary are in the above age category, and that they walk the farthest but always choose the shortest path, partly explains the higher rate of involvement of this age group in accidents. The data available in montreal are sufficient for reporting but not for planning. The research suggests that further detailed studies are required to determine movement patterns and identify the highly involved groups and their need to travel as pedestrians. Means of obtaining and analysing such information are suggested.
Abstract