Measurement and evaluation
Queue length
Longueur de file d’attente
Queue length is the number of users or amount of space occupied by a waiting line at a defined observation time. At the curb, queues can involve vehicles or passengers, and their safety and access effects depend on where the line forms, how it moves, and which paths it blocks.
Understanding the term
Record the queue’s spatial footprint as well as its count. A short vehicle queue can block a crossing, while a longer line in protected space may have fewer conflicts.
Every reported measure needs a geographic boundary, observation period, unit, and documented calculation method. State how missing data, temporary closures, and sessions crossing the observation boundary are treated. Use distributions or separate user categories where an average hides important differences. Compare consistent definitions across sites and periods, and distinguish an observed association from a demonstrated causal effect. The appropriate indicator follows the policy question rather than whichever field a monitoring system happens to provide.