The Complexities of Walking and Rolling: Using Crowdsourced Data to Understand and Analyze the Mobility Barriers Vulnerable Populations Experience as Pedestrians

Decades of vehicle dominated mobility policy has created streetscapes that endanger pedestrians. Pedestrian-vehicle collisions disproportionately impact older adults (aged 65+), with fatality rates three times higher than younger age groups. Similarly, factors such as episodic or permanent disability, and gender increase overall exposure times and collision risks. Despite this awareness, physical infrastructure and transportation policies inadequately address environmental hazards that create mobility barriers for vulnerable populations. This thesis identifies critical gaps in mobility policy, data, and street design, highlighting the inadequacies of current civic infrastructure in serving diverse populations and understanding pedestrian challenges. While policy directives often target the demographic majority, they overlook those facing the greatest risks. To address this policy mismatch, this study conducts a segment and thematic analysis of crowdsourced data to identify common barriers to pedestrian safety and accessibility. Over 3000 reports (missing amenity, incident, hazard and concerns) from WalkRollMap.org, collected between May 2021 and December 2023, were analyzed to explore demographic variability in barriers to pedestrian mobility. The segment analysis revealed common barriers, such as the need for adequate pedestrian infrastructure, as indicated by missing amenity reports. Incident reports suggested that vehicle-centric street designs create conditions where pedestrians are not visible to moving vehicles. Hazard and concern reports highlighted issues with inadequate crosswalks, poor sidewalk conditions, and motorist entitlement. The thematic analysis provided clearer demographic insights. Women and non-binary respondents identified safety concerns due to inconsiderate street users. Youth reported unsafe conditions from aggressive motorists in school zones. Older adults emphasized difficulties with unpredictable cyclist speeds and volumes. Disabled individuals expressed fear and caution regarding steep or obstructed sidewalks. The study's findings underscore the need for inclusive data collection and policy formulation processes. Achieving inclusively designed cities requires engaging directly with vulnerable populations to understand their diverse needs. By bridging this gap, cities can better support the health and active mobility of all residents.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Bishop, Amanda B.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fast, Victoria

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Miller, Byron
• Nelson, Trisalyn
• Macedo, Joseli

• Accident Analysis
• Barriers
• Built Environment
• Crowdsource Data
• Demographic Segmentation
• Disabled Individual
• Disabling Environment
• Environmental Characteristics
• Pedestrian Experience
• Pedestrian Mobility
• Pedestrian Safety
• Pedestrian Accessibility
• Representative Data
• Urban Planning and Policy
• Volunteered Geographic Information

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/47248

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/119637