Mehta, V.
APA
Mehta, V. (2008). Walkable streets: pedestrian behavior, perceptions and attitudes. Journal of Urbanism, 1(3), 217-245.
Keywords
Social Qualities
,
Streets
,
Subjective Environmental Perceptions
,
Urban Design
,
Walkability
Abstract
Urban designers are interested in the environmental qualities of places that make them better for walking, not only as settings for physical activity, but also as sensorial and social settings. Research in walkability lacks qualitative studies that address the microscale analyses of the environment. This paper is an empirical examination of the relationship of the physical, land-use, and social characteristics of the environment at the microscale to people’s behavior and perceptions toward walking. Using the data from surveys and interviews, this research emphasizes the integration of user perceptions and subjective measures to understand the impact of environmental characteristics on walking behavior on Main Streets. Adding to previous research, this study demonstrates the significance of social qualities in supporting walking. The findings expand our understanding of the hierarchy and criteria of walking needs and suggest that, given a safe and comfortable setting, people look for usefulness, sense of belonging and pleasurability as additional and distinct needs to enhance their walking experience.
Main finding
Walkable behavior on Main Streets is impacted by environmental characteristics. The perception and effects of usefulness, safety, comfort, sensory pleasurability and sense of belonging emerged as important factors for a walkable main street environment. Planning and design interventions to increase walkability on main streets should besides physical improvements also focus on ensuring the variety of businesses, community-gathering places, and places of social meaning.
Description of method used in the article
The study was conducted on three main streets in the Boston area. It consisted of pedestrian counting and survey and interviews with main street users about perceptions and behaviors.
Verdict
Of practical use