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

Diogo Abrantes, Marta Campos Ferreira, Paulo Dias Costa, Joana Hora, Soraia Felício, Teresa Galvão Dias () and Miguel Coimbra
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Diogo Abrantes: Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Marta Campos Ferreira: Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-265 Porto, Portugal
Paulo Dias Costa: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
Joana Hora: Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-265 Porto, Portugal
Soraia Felício: Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-265 Porto, Portugal
Teresa Galvão Dias: Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-265 Porto, Portugal
Miguel Coimbra: Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: route planner; active travel; sustainable mobility; users’ perceptions; customization; IoT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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