User evaluation of pedestrian infrastructure functional or design-led?

This paper reports the results of an evaluation study of characteristics of a specially designed slow-mode path near the campus of the Eindhoven University of Technology. The design of the path is special in the way that it differs from traditional design principles. The study is based on both evaluation scores and choice behaviour. First, the evaluation scores of users of the specially designed slow-mode path are analysed. To that effect, a logistic regression model was developed that describes the relationship between an overall evaluation score and several evaluation scores for characteristics of the new path. Second, four different stated choice models were estimated to describe the relationship between the probability of choosing a path and its characteristics. It appears that the new non-traditional design aspects have a positive influence on travellers' evaluation of infrastructure.