Interaction Behavior Between Individual Pedestrians

In this contribution, data on pedestrian interactions are analyzed stemming from newly performed laboratory experiments. It has been found that pedestrians perform interaction movements in 88 % of all occasions they meet another pedestrian. These interaction movements consist of lateral and/or longitudinal evasive maneuvers. For crossing situations the approach direction has no influence on the passing side. However, if the approach angle increases and the situation comes closer to bidirectional, pedestrians prefer passing each other on the right hand side. Walking in a hurry increases the probability of passing in front of another pedestrian. Meeting two pedestrians increases the probability of passing at the back. Pedestrians prefer larger lateral evasion in bidirectional situations and larger longitudinal evasion in crossing situations. Moreover, men laterally evade more than women and hurried pedestrians laterally evade more than normally walking pedestrians. Finally, the extent of evasion is larger when small groups are encountered.