Pedestrian safety near bus stops is often overlooked, despite the high risk of crashes in these areas. As a frequent bus user, I have rarely considered the vulnerability of pedestrians at bus stops. However, recent statistics highlight the severity of this issue. According to a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment published in 2023, 41% of pedestrian-involved crashes and 34% of bicyclist crashes in Massachusetts occur within 300 feet of a bus stop. In the Boston metropolitan area, these numbers rise to 50% for pedestrian crashes and 45% for bicyclist crashes near MBTA bus stops while in Springfield, another high crash risk town, over 70% of all pedestrian crashes occurred near a PVTA bus stop.

This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to pedestrian crashes around bus stops and identify strategies to enhance safety. Using video data collected at previous crash locations near bus stops in Springfield such as State Street and Federal Street, as well as survey data on safety perceptions from pedestrians and drivers, this research is examining key risk factors that impact safety, such as pedestrian behavior, pedestrian perception of safety, infrastructure design, and traffic patterns. In addition, a statistical analysis of the contributing factors will be conducted to determine the relationships between these factors and crash occurrences.