Walking Behavior of Social Groups on Crosswalk Under the Influence of Pandemic: A Field Study

Abstract

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the behavior of social groups on crosswalks has become increasingly important. This field study aims to investigate the dynamic behavior of pedestrian groups crossing streets during the pandemic. By analyzing the movement patterns and behaviors of group under different conditions, we aim to provide insights into how crosswalk infrastructures can be improved for a safer and more efficient pedestrian experience during the pandemic. An observation experiment was conducted at a crosswalk near Shinjuku Station in Japan in 2021. Trajectories of 296 groups were analyzed with up to five members, examining their velocity characteristics and spatial relations. Our findings reveal several important insights. First, the group size affects the average speed and speed difference of group members, and that the width of the crosswalk is positively correlated with the average speed of group members. Second, the group size is uncorrelated with mean inter-distance of members, regardless of group size. However, the farther members are from the leader, the greater the average distance between adjacent members. Third, distinct group shapes for groups of different sizes. Groups of three people form a V shape, while groups of four people form a U shape, and groups of five people form a trapezoid shape. Finally, the group size is correlated with the average offset angle of group members in the northbound scenario. Larger groups tend to have smaller average offset angles, making them more likely to choose the shortest route. Overall, this study is a crucial step in developing safety-oriented walking modeling tools for pedestrians at intersections. It also has important implications for predicting pedestrian crossing behavior and show how human factors and ergonomics methods can be used to improve urban public infrastructure systems in densely populated countries, such as Japan.