Effects of pedestrian crossing on roundabout capacity

Carlos Duran, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

Modern roundabout is a relatively new form of intersection that has gained popularity in the United States due to its significant reduction of traffic accidents, reduction of vehicular delay and improvement in safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. There has been significant research to determine the entry capacity of roundabouts in countries such as Germany, U.K., Australia and others. Although the number of pedestrians crossing a roundabouts approach has a clear effect on the approach entry capacity as with any other intersection, there has been no significant research in the U.S. on the effects of pedestrian crossing at roundabouts. The recently released Highway Capacity Manual 2010 expresses the need to conduct research related to pedestrian effects on roundabout with the following statement "research on the operational performance of pedestrians at roundabouts is limited, both in terms of the effect of motor vehicles on pedestrians and of pedestrians on motor vehicles". It further adds that "additional research on pedestrian operations at roundabouts is needed to develop and refine procedures that adequately address these issues". The research presented in this thesis analyzes the effects of pedestrian volume on the entry capacity at roundabout entrances. In addition the impact of the pedestrian crosswalk position (with different pedestrian volume) on vehicles entry capacity is also examined.

Subject Area

Transportation planning

Recommended Citation

Duran, Carlos, "Effects of pedestrian crossing on roundabout capacity" (2010). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1479554.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1479554

Share

COinS