Does lighting affect pedestrian flows? A pilot study in Lund, Market Harborough and Dublin

A study records pedestrian footfalls in Lund, Dublin and Market Harborough during the day and after dark, either side of the Autumn 2016 clock change, using the change of end of civil twilight time to measure the effect of different lighting levels at the same clock time on footfall rates. Examination of total footfalls on weekdays and at weekends found significant decreases in counts after the clock change, on 5/6 sites on weekdays and half the sites at weekends. Further analysis found that the percentage decrease in the counts in the test period (same time/day of the week, light one week, dark the next) was more than in the control period (same time/day of the week, light both weeks), in 79% of counting sessions. The findings demonstrate higher reduction in footfalls on weekdays in mixed use areas, such as the sites selected in Dublin, and on Sundays in non-central locations.