Risk perception, worry, and pedestrian behaviour in the Norwegian population

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between pedestrians' risk perception and worry, and how worry influence pedestrians' behaviour. Worry is regarded as a feeling that emerges as a result of an individual's cognitive assessment of risk. The study was based on a questionnaire survey carried out among a representative sample (n = 2000) of the Norwegian population. The results showed differences in how people perceived risk and how worried they were about being exposed to different hazards (traffic accident, harassment, theft, and terror) as a pedestrian during night-time and daytime. As expected, pedestrians perceived their risk as higher and were more worried being exposed to hazards during night-time than in daytime. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that risk perception was a significant predictor variable for worry during both night-time and daytime. Additionally, worry was found to influence pedestrian behaviour. Worry was moderately associated with walking frequency during night-time, and how often individuals walked alone outdoors during night-time. These associations were stronger for people without access to a private car. No associations were found between worry and walking frequency during daytime. The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the association between pedestrians' risk perceptions and worry, and how worry influence walking frequency. From both a pro-environmental and a health promoting perspective, it is important that people choose to walk or cycle for their daily travels.

Seasonal variation in risk perception and travel behaviour among cyclists in a Norwegian urban area

The main purpose of the article is to examine the association between risk perception and cyclists' decision as to whether to cycle during the different seasons of the year. The study on which the article is based included worry as a feeling that emerges as a result of an individual's cognitive assessment of risk, attitudes toward traffic rules, risk tolerance and safety priority. The study was based on a questionnaire survey carried out among cyclists from Trondheim Municipality in Norway (n = 291) during spring 2017. The results revealed seasonal differences in perceived risk and that risk perception was an important predictor of both the decision as to whether to cycle and the frequency of cycling during wintertime. The same results were not found for cycling during the other seasons of the year. Additionally, an association was found between risk perception and worry. The respondents were more worried when cycling in winter conditions compared with cycling in summer conditions, and worry was a strong predictor of travel mode behaviour. The authors found that when the respondents' perception of risk was very low, they were not worried and hence their behaviour was not affected. Perceived risk and worry were only associated with cycling behaviour during wintertime. These findings may be used as a guide in measures implemented to increase the number of cyclists during winter and in communications to the public about the risks linked to cycling.