Towards The Design of a Comprehensive PLOS Index

Abstract

This study proposes an innovative methodology for evaluating sidewalk efficiency through the assessment of the Pedestrian Level of Service (PLOS) as experienced by pedestrians. The approach is structured around four key pillars: infrastructure accessibility, convenience of movement, safety and security. It also aims to capture pedestrians’ preferences regarding their walking experience in order to estimate weighting coefficients and develop an index for quantifying pedestrian service levels. A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine factors influencing pedestrian experience, considering built environment characteristics, infrastructure and traffic conditions and user demographics. The findings indicate that gender affects the factors that pedestrian prioritise, with women placing greater importance on security as well as convenience. Regarding age, convenience becomes increasingly important as pedestrians grow older. Overall, the results contribute to the development of a standardized framework for assessing sidewalk performance and identifying critical factors affecting pedestrian experience.