Abstract
Pedestrian safety perception refers to the subjective sense of security individuals experience when walking in urban environments. This perception is shaped not only by objective risk factors but also by environmental quality, infrastructural conditions, and psychological interpretations of space. Understanding how people perceive safety is critical for planners and policymakers, as it directly influences walking behavior, public space use, and the overall sustainability of cities. Despite increasing attention to pedestrian infrastructure in global research, medium-sized cities in Iran, such as Bushehr, have received limited empirical investigation, even though pedestrian accidents remain a serious concern.
This study aimed to identify and analyze the factors influencing perceived safety in two of Bushehr’s principal urban corridors: Imam Khomeini Street and Ashouri Street. These streets were selected because they present contrasting physical and organizational characteristics, with Imam Khomeini generally offering more structured pedestrian facilities and Ashouri exhibiting fragmented sidewalks and greater exposure to traffic. A quantitative design was adopted, using a researcher-developed questionnaire containing 17 indicators of pedestrian safety perception. Items covered four key domains identified in the literature—sidewalk quality and spatial organization, geometric design and traffic guidance, safety of crossings, and environmental lighting—and were rated on a five-point Likert scale.
To ensure scientific rigor, the content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by ten academic experts in urban planning and transportation, who reviewed the relevance and clarity of each item. Reliability testing produced a McDonald’s Omega coefficient of 0.966, indicating excellent internal consistency. Sample size was determined using G*Power software, with an expected medium effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.5) and a power level of 95%, which yielded a minimum requirement of 2