Assessing the Potential Impact of a Pedibus Program on Urban Traffic Congestion: A Case Study of a Critical Intersection in the Municipality of Pitești

Urban traffic congestion near educational institutions is largely driven by car use for school trips. This paper analyzes the impact of implementing the Pedibus program on the performance of an urban intersection in the municipality of Pitești, using real traffic data and microscopic modeling in PTV Vissim (PTV Planung Transport Verkehr GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany). The results suggest that the intersection may operate at service level F, with high delays and potential capacity constraints. Implementing the Pedibus program, modeled as a reduction in school-related vehicle flows based on the school mobility survey and the assumed participation scenario, may improve intersection performance and shift the intersection from (Level of Service )LOS F to LOS E. The study highlights the potential of mobility measures based on changing user behavior to reduce congestion in school areas without major infrastructure interventions.