Exploring road users’ view towards the concept of sharing road space: A case study of Australia and the UK

While the shared road space concept is prevalent in developed countries like Australia and the UK, there have been limited efforts to study how different road users, such as pedestrians, drivers and cyclists, perceive sharing these spaces with other road users. This study aims to bridge that gap in the scientific literature and provide practical insights for urban planners and policymakers. An online perception survey was conducted in Australia and the UK, and it provided valid responses from 266 pedestrians, 183 drivers, and 108 cyclists. The survey data was modelled using a generalised ordered probit model for each road user type to explore the demographic factors that significantly influence their views towards shared space. Cycling was found to be a significant factor for both the pedestrian and driver models, whereas driving was found to be a significant factor for the pedestrian and cyclist models, meaning a road user who falls under the multiple road user types has a significant positive impact on their view towards the concept of shared space. In addition, age, gender, country of residence and shared space preference were significant factors for all models. This study explores a comparative approach to examine road users’ views towards shared space with mixed travel modalities in different jurisdictions. It also contributes to the current understanding of how different road user types view the concept of sharing space with other road users.