The starting and continuation factors of smartphone use while walking from a station's ticket gate: The influences of waiting at a stoplight and the presence of other pedestrians in personal space

This study clarifies the tendency of train users to use smartphones while walking from the station ticket gate. Pedestrians who have a smartphone in their hand at the ticket gate and have to wait for more than 40 s at the stoplight tend to use their smartphones. The presence of other pedestrians in close proximity encourages continuing use but does not encourage starting use. Smartphone usage occurs frequently at places that are within 200 m of a stay place because smartphone users cannot stop using the smartphone immediately after they leave a stay place and they can use other pedestrians as walking guides.