Half of the pedestrians get stressed when walking in Barcelona

BarcelonaIn Barcelona, ​​half of pedestrians (47%) report feeling stressed while walking on the street, and 79% say they experience this feeling more often now than five years ago. The first edition of the pedestrian mobility barometer in the Catalan capital, compiled by the RACC (Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia) through 1,200 surveys and more than 9,000 observations, indicates that 37% of pedestrians admit to experiencing "quite a bit" of stress when they have to walk, and only 13% feel it is "safe." In fact, almost two out of four (47%) say that walking on the streets of Barcelona is unsafe. Among the main reasons pedestrians experience this type of stress and insecurity is having to cross bike lanes to access trash containers or bus stops; two situations that affect 71% of those surveyed. In this regard, the majority of pedestrians interviewed by the RACC (78%) point to scooters. Vans and trucks (59%) and electric bicycle users (56%) also generate this feeling of insecurity. Furthermore, eight out of ten users also cite excessive speed as the main factor of insecurity, attributing this behavior to users of personal mobility vehicles such as scooters (83%), followed by electric bicycle users (68%) and delivery drivers (61%). In this context, the RACC proposes requiring goods delivery companies to provide training and awareness programs for their employees. ridersas well as implementing compliance monitoring mechanisms for driving.

According to the study, half of pedestrians feel unsafe due to the possibility of a scooter or bicycle passing them when leaving home, as well as the fact that the bike lane is located on the roadway. "Having increased the space dedicated to shared platforms has not been strictly perceived as an improvement in their comfort, when it was a result that perhaps they did expect," stated Cristian Bardají, director of the RACC's mobility department, at a press conference. Therefore, he believes it is necessary to "raise awareness" through more training for users, as well as expand pedestrian-calmed areas and improve signage.

Bardají also suggests expanding and improving pedestrian infrastructure, with a special focus on high-traffic areas and areas where pedestrians share the road with motorized vehicles. In fact, he cites the Via Laietana model as an example, with its wider sidewalks, although he admits there may be other mobility problems, such as with the bike lane, which is used both uphill and downhill even though only uphill riding is permitted.

Walking while distracted by mobile phones

On the other hand, the report also highlights that one in three pedestrians walks in Barcelona with their mobile phone in hand, a distraction, according to the RACC (Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia). The same number of pedestrians cross the street at crosswalks against red lights, and two out of three cross outside the designated area or without checking for oncoming vehicles. Both behaviors can cause accidents, but only one in ten respondents believes that pedestrians who walk while distracted by their mobile phones or who engage in behavior that endangers the safety of other road users should be penalized. In this regard, the RACC has pointed to a lack of self-criticism. With the aim of promoting a balanced and safe coexistence among all modes of urban transport, the RACC report also proposes some road safety improvements. For example, expanding pedestrian infrastructure, raising awareness among scooter and bicycle users about the priority of pedestrians in shared spaces, or reinforcing the hierarchy of space at bus stops.