A New Perspective on Supporting Vulnerable Road Users’ Safety, Security and Comfort through Personalized Route Planning

Bibliographic Data

ID15463151
AuthorsDiogo Abrantes (0000-0003-3038-1732, Universidade do Porto), Marta Campos Ferreira (0000-0001-9505-5730, Universidade do Porto), Paulo Dias Costa (0000-0003-0827-6055, Universidade do Porto), Joana Hora (0000-0001-8398-8410, Universidade do Porto), Soraia Felício (0000-0003-2584-2901, Universidade do Porto), Teresa Galvão Dias (0000-0001-6209-3626, Universidade do Porto, corresponding author), Miguel Coimbra (0000-0001-7501-6523, Universidade do Porto)
Year2023
Volume20
Issue4
Pages3027-3027
Publication date2023-02-09
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20043027
PMID36833717
OpenAlexW4319983383
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited9

Due to an increase in population, urban centers are currently seeing an increase in traffic, resulting in negative consequences such as pollution and congestion. Efforts have been made to promote a modal shift towards the use of more sustainable means of transport, such as walking and cycling, but several deterrents influence the citizens' perceptions of safety, security and comfort, discouraging their choice of active modes of transport. This study focuses on the importance of providing meaningful information to vulnerable road users (VRUs) to support their perceptions and objectives while moving within urban spaces through a novel concept of route planning. A broad survey of the needs and concerns of VRUs through interviews, focus groups and questionnaires, applied to the Portuguese population of the Metropolitan Area of Porto, led to the development of a new concept of route planners that show personalized routes according to the individual perceptions of each user. This concept is materialized in a route planner prototype that has been extensively tested by potential users. Subjective evaluation and feedback showed the usefulness of the concept and added value to a familiar product, leading to a satisfying experience for participants. This study shows that there is an opportunity to improve these tools to provide a higher degree of power and customization to users on route planning, which includes addressing mobility restrictions and personal perceptions of safety, security and comfort. The ultimate goal of this new approach is to persuade citizens to switch to more sustainable means of transport

Business · Computer security · Metropolitan area · Perception · Personalization · Planner · Poison control · Population · Transport engineering · Computer Science · Engineering · Impact of Light on Environment and Health · Medicine · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Marketing

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