Variability in Sidewalk Pedestrian Level of Service Measures and Rating

Abstract

Treating walking as a mode, transportation engineers developed the pedestrian level of service (PLOS), a concept evaluating pedestrian traffic characteristics and network capacity, similar to vehicular level of service. Evolution of PLOS resulted in many methods with different scopes and measures trying to better represent the complexity of walking, none of which is superior, nor can their ratings be converted to those of other methods. This paper discusses the variability in PLOS methods proving a lack of consensus and consistency in the literature. A numerical example from the PLOS ratings of 81 walkway locations using 3 different methods shows that each method has benefits, but none of them reflect whole aspects of walking alone. In an attempt to contribute, the need for a revised PLOS rating structure is discussed, suggesting some mathematical techniques to combine different PLOS evaluation results (e.g., minimum value, weighted averaging, and so on). Although this paper defines the main dimensions of walking needed in PLOS evaluations, feedback from different disciplines (e.g., engineering, planning, and psychology) and regions is needed to reach the desired consensus.