Implementing pedestrian safety interventions <br />Attachment C <br />Attachment B <br />74 <br />BOX 4.4: Considering pedestrian safety in the design of mass <br />transport routes <br />A study on high capacity bus systems revealed <br />that pedestrians accounted for over half of all <br />fatalities across a sample of 32 bus corridors in <br />five countries in Latin America and Asia-Pacific (15). <br />Most conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles <br />occur at stations and terminals. The terminals in <br />particular can easily become dangerous spots on <br />bus corridors. <br />These findings have been utilized by EMBARQ - the <br />World Resources Institute and partners, to develop <br />key design recommendations for integrating safety <br />into the planning, design and operation of high <br />capacity bus systems. In Mexico City, for example, <br />a pedestrian-friendly public transport route known <br />as Metrobus Line 4 has been designed. This route <br />passes through the historic centre of the city, with <br />some of the streets having very high pedestrian traf- <br />fic. Many important safety improvements have been <br />made on this route: <br />Provision of safe pedestrian access across the <br />route. as well as to and from the stations. <br />s~ <br />Addition of medians to reduce crossing distance <br />for pedestrians. <br />Protected refuge islands for pedestrians, with <br />bollards and kerbs shielding pedestrians from <br />vehicular traffic. <br />Installation of pedestrian 'countdown' signals <br />at signalized intersections in the historic centre. <br />Previously, pedestrians had to rely on the vehi- <br />cle signals to judge whether they had adequate <br />time to cross the street during the green phase. <br />The yellow light for vehicles lasted less than four <br />seconds, which did not leave pedestrians enough <br />time to finish crossing and consequently put <br />them at risk. The new countdown signals have <br />addressed this problem. <br />The newly designed bus route became operational <br />in April 2012. The pedestrian safety design improve- <br />ments indicated above are expected to improve <br />safety and walking conditions for pedestrians. Simi- <br />lar interventions will be implemented in other cities <br />where EMBARQ and local partners are working. <br />Page 220 <br />