1) A study analyzed crash data from bus corridors around the world to understand how Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems impact safety. 2) Key findings showed that overall, well-designed BRT systems can reduce crashes, but some initial increases were seen. Road width, intersection complexity, and use of counterflow lanes increased crash risk. 3) The majority of BRT-related fatalities involved pedestrians, especially those walking to stations. Safety issues also arose from illegal turns, cyclists and pedestrians in bus lanes, and right turns across bus lanes.

1. BRT / Busways and Traffic Safety
Nicolae Duduta, Claudia Adriazola, Dario Hidalgo, Luis Antonio Lindau, Rebecca Jaffe
Transforming Transportation 2012
Claudia Adriazola-Delgado
Director, Health & Road Safety Program
Transforming Transportation 2012
January, 27th 2012
Washington, DC

2. BRT / Busways and Traffic Safety
Agenda
Background
Methodology
Main findings
Next steps: BRT / Busways Traffic Safety Guidelines

3. Meta-Trends affecting sustainable cities
The transition to an urban millennium
Over 50% in 2007
30% in 1950
14% in 1900
The Global Population
3% in 1800

4. 2011
1 billion

5. 10 years later….
1 billion +1 billion

6. BRT / Busways and Road Safety
Background
Leading causes of premature death in the world:
2004 2030
1 Ischaemic heart disease 1 Ischaemic heart disease
2 Cerebrovascular disease 2 Cerebrovascular disease
3 Lower respiratory infections 3 Pulmonary disease
4 Pulmonary disease 4 Lower respiratory infections
5 Diarrhoeal disease 5 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
6 HIV / AIDS 6 Lung cancers
7 Tuberculosis 7 Diabetes
8 Lung cancers 8 Hypertensive heart disease
9 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS 9 Stomach cancer
10 Low birth weight 19 HIV / AIDS
90% of traffic fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries and involve 70%
of vulnerable users of the road
In cities, the majority of crashes are concentrated on urban arterials, where BRTs
and Busways are usually located

14. BRT / Busways and Road Safety
Background
There is gap in knowledge about how different BRT and Busway
design features can impact vulnerable users of the road, in
particular pedestrian and traffic safety
BRT / Busways and Traffic Safety Research
• Nicolae Duduta
• Claudia Adriazola
• Dario Hidalgo
• Toni Lindau
• Red EMBARQ
Collaboration
• SVOW
• Consia (Carsten Wass)
• iRAP
• Universidad Católica de Chile
• ITDP
• World Bank

15. BRT / Busways and Road Safety
Methodology
Istanbul
Vancouver
Guadalajara Delhi
Mexico City Ahmedabad
Cali Pereira
Bogota Belo Horizonte
Curitiba
Porto Alegre Brisbane
Data analysis:
Collected and analyzed crash data from bus corridors around the world,
including Bogota, Curitiba, Mexico City, Delhi, etc.
Developed crash frequency models for bus corridors

16. BRT / Busways and Road Safety
Methodology
Road safety inspections:
Conducted road safety inspections on existing BRT systems
Interviewed road safety specialists from different BRT agencies to
learn from their experience

17. Main findings: Overall safety impact of a BRT
Macrobús, Guadalajara

18. Main findings: Overall safety impact of a BRT
Macrobús, Guadalajara
250 5000
Before BRT During BRT construction After start of operations
4500
Citywide crashes
200 4000
3500
150 3000
2500
100 2000
1500
50 1000
500
0 0

19. Main findings: Overall safety impact of a BRT
Macrobús, Guadalajara
Passenger per hour per direction (peak) Crashes per year
2 general traffic lanes 3194 2 general traffic lanes 726
1 BRT lane 5000 1 BRT lane 6

20. Main findings: Overall safety impact of a BRT
Av. Caracas, TransMilenio
70
60
Annual fatalities on Av. Caracas, Bogota
50
40
30
20
10
0
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Fatalities on corridor Tendency without TransMilenio Tendency with TransMilenio

21. Main findings: Overall safety impact of a BRT / Busway
Not all systems have had a positive impact on safety
Cristiano Machado Busway, Belo Horizonte
Corridor with the highest crash
frequency citywide
BRTS, Delhi
Initial increase in fatalities after the
implementation of the bus system

22. The global picture of safety on BRT and Busways
Fatalities by road user
The safest place to be on a bus corridor is inside the bus
The most dangerous: walking to the bus station
Bicyclists
5% Other
8%
Motorcyclists
10%
Pedestrians
Car occupants 54%
23%

23. The global picture of safety on BRT and Busways
Location of pedestrian crashes
Av. Caracas, TransMilenio
Porto Alegre, Brazil
Metrobus Line 2, Mexico City

24. Main findings
Factors influencing crash frequencies on bus corridors
Overall road and intersection geometry
Counterflow
Location of bus lanes (median or curbside)

25. Factors influencing crash frequencies
Street width and intersection size and complexity
Road width and complexity of intersections are the most important predictors of
crash frequencies.
Metrobus Line 1, Mexico City

26. Factors influencing crash frequencies
Counterflow
Counterflow lanes were strongly correlated with higher
crash frequencies across all our models (p<0.001)

27. Factors influencing crash frequencies
Location of bus lanes

28. Safety issues on center-lane systems
Illegal left turns and lane use

29. Safety issues on curbside bus corridors
Pedestrians and cyclists in the bus lanes
Av. Caracas, TransMilenio
Metrobus Line 2, Mexico City

30. Safety issues on curbside bus corridors
Right turns across the bus lanes
Av. Caracas, TransMilenio
Metrobus Line 2, Mexico City

31. The global picture of safety on BRT and Busways
Cyclists using the bus lanes
Av. Caracas, TransMilenio
Cyclists perceive the bus lanes as safer than the general traffic lanes, and often
prefer to use them
But the lanes are not designed to accommodate both buses and bicycles, and there
have been serious crashes involving BRTs and bikes
Metrobus, in Mexico City, has reported a growing problem with BRT / bicycle crashes
Metrobus Line 2, Mexico City

32. Next steps
BRT safety guidelines
September
2012