Identification of Factors Influencing Pedestrian Perceived Safety and Satisfaction Level Using Ordered Logit Models in an Indian Midsized City

In Indian cities, pedestrian fatalities and injuries have emerged as significant concerns. However, obtaining consistent and reliable crash information poses a significant challenge, particularly in mid-sized Indian cities. In this framework, this study aims to identify and quantify the critical factors influencing pedestrian perceived safety and satisfaction levels in a mid-sized Indian city with respect to diverse land use patterns. A dataset comprising perceptions of 2112 pedestrians regarding 'safety' and 'satisfaction level' has been collected and analyzed across six major intersections characterized by three distinct land use patterns—religious places, commercial areas, and educational hubs—in the central business district area of Patiala city, Punjab, India. With the help of ordered logit models, it has been concluded that the predominant land use pattern, the presence of a pedestrian signal, carriageway width, presence of a curve section at an intersection, vehicular speed, average value of time-to-collision (TTC) at the junction, pedestrian's gender and educational background, and trip purpose significantly affect pedestrians' perceived safety and satisfaction levels. The model outcomes are further constructively utilized to frame suitable policy interventions and recommend remedial measures to enhance pedestrian safety in Indian cities and comparable cities in other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).