Understanding Pedestrian Interactive Behaviors under the Different Level of Services on Stairways

Abstract

Stairways serve as important walking facilities for pedestrians, especially in metro stations, but researches of pedestrian traffic on stairways are not sufficient. This paper investigates pedestrian interactive behaviors (PIBs) under the different level of services (LOS) on stairways, including overtaking behavior and evasive behavior on stairways. Macro and micro indicators are proposed and calculated based on field observation collected from two stairway flights in a certain metro station in Shanghai, China. Results of macro indicators reveal that the characteristics of overtaking behavior and evasive behavior have both similarities and differences. As for similarities, neither of these two types of behaviors would occur under extremely low or high densities, representing LOS A or LOS F. Under other ranges of density, occurrence intensities of pedestrian interactive behaviors on stairways are different. Overtaking behavior intensity shows a rapid increase trend with the density from low to medium, while evasive behavior intensity keeps a certain value. Results of micro indictors show that the available space for overtaking behavior and evasive behavior is the main factor contributing to the above similarities and differences. Characteristics of PIBs under the different LOS present in highway capacity manual are discussed based on field observations. Findings of this research are helpful to understand the knowledge of PIBs on stairways for a better stairway traffic design and level of service evaluation.