Factors Influencing the Use of Pedestrian Bridges in North of Iran

OBJECTIVE: To find out factors that influence the use/non-use of pedestrian bridges in Northern Iran. METHODS: In this observational study, 4 pedestrian bridges at four different places in Rasht, North of Iran was studied. In addition to demographic data, pedestrians were interviewed for reasons of use/not use the pedestrian bridge. The data analyzed with SPSS software version 18 by non-parametric tests such as Chi Square. RESULTS: From all 499 participants, more than one-third of pedestrians had not used pedestrian bridges. The most reasons for bridges use among respondents were feeling of safety and security (79.2%) and obey the rules (53.6%). The reasons for the non-use of bridges were time saving (63.7%), laziness (48.7%) and inappropriate of the bridge (34.2%). There were no significant differences in age, sex, education level, and road accidents’ history with use of bridge but there was a significant difference between the bridge usage with having a driver’s license, rash-hour time, and the presence of a mechanical elevator (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that in order to increase the pedestrian bridges use, it is necessary to pay more attention to make standard facilities such as installing escalators or elevators of these bridges.