Walking behaviors and street lanscape
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Walking Behaviors and Street Landscape
Influence of Street-Level Environmental Factors on Walking Behavior
Urban Greenery and Walking Behavior
Urban greenery significantly impacts walking behavior, particularly when assessed from an eye-level perspective. Studies have shown that the presence of street greenery, as opposed to greenery viewed from a bird's eye perspective, is more closely associated with increased walking time and frequency among older adults2 3 6. This suggests that urban planners should prioritize the visibility and accessibility of greenery at the pedestrian level to promote walking behaviors.
Street Layout and Connectivity
Street layout, including factors such as intersection density and street integration, plays a crucial role in influencing walking behaviors. Research conducted in Japan indicates that more connected street layouts encourage walking for commuting and errands, while reducing the likelihood of car use7. This relationship holds true across different urban and rural settings, highlighting the universal importance of street connectivity in promoting walking.
Built Environment and Walkability
The built environment's characteristics, such as sidewalk width, the presence of green spaces, and the availability of life service facilities, are critical in shaping walking behaviors. A study in Harbin, China, emphasizes the need for diverse street greening and the distribution of green and life service facilities to enhance pedestrian-friendly environments1. Similarly, research in Dalian shows that these factors can influence pedestrians to choose longer and more complex walking routes, thereby increasing their overall walking activity5.
Social and Sensory Qualities
Beyond physical infrastructure, the social and sensory qualities of the environment also play a significant role in walking behavior. People are more likely to walk in environments that provide a sense of safety, comfort, and social belonging. Qualitative studies highlight that, in addition to physical activity, people seek usefulness, a sense of belonging, and pleasurability in their walking environments8. This underscores the importance of integrating user perceptions and subjective measures in urban design to create more walkable streets.
Conclusion
The relationship between walking behaviors and street landscapes is multifaceted, involving physical, social, and sensory elements. Urban greenery, street layout, and built environment characteristics all significantly influence walking behaviors. To promote walking, urban planners should focus on enhancing street-level greenery, improving street connectivity, and considering the social and sensory qualities of the environment. By doing so, they can create more pedestrian-friendly and health-promoting urban spaces.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
How Does the Living Street Environment in the Old Urban Districts Affect Walking Behavior? A General Multi-Factor Framework
Increasing green facilities and life service facilities in old urban districts and focusing on street greening and landscape diversity can promote human-oriented living street environments and create pedestrian-friendly, healthy streets.
Eye-Level Street Greenery and Walking Behaviors of Older Adults
Eye-level street greenery contributes to walking time for older adults, suggesting it should be considered in urban design to promote walking behaviors.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalThe effect of street-level greenery on walking behavior: Evidence from Hong Kong.
Eye-level street greenery and parks in Hong Kong are associated with higher odds of walking, and street greenery alone increases total walking time, supporting the health benefits of urban greenspaces through walking and physical activity.
Observational Study
Highly CitedHow are Neighborhood and Street-Level Walkability Factors Associated with Walking Behaviors? A Big Data Approach Using Street View Images
Streetscape factors, quantified from computer vision in street view images, significantly contribute to explaining walking mode choice and have a greater association with walking mode choice than neighborhood-level factors.
Highly CitedEffect of the Street Environment on Walking Behavior: A Case Study Using the Route Choice Model in the Chunliu Community of Dalian
The street environment, including sidewalk and driveway width, garbage bins, green spaces, and wall characteristics, influences pedestrians' walking habits and compels them to choose longer and more complex routes.
Observational StudyAssociation between street greenery and walking behavior in older adults in Hong Kong
Street greenery, as assessed by Google Street View images, is positively associated with increased odds of engaging in walking and total walking time for older adults in Hong Kong.
Observational StudyHighly CitedAssociations of street layout with walking and sedentary behaviors in an urban and a rural area of Japan
More connected street layouts in Japan are associated with increased walking for commuting and errands, and less driving, with different relationships between urban and rural areas.
Observational StudyWalkable streets: pedestrian behavior, perceptions and attitudes
People value safety, comfort, usefulness, sense of belonging, and pleasurability in walking environments, with social qualities being crucial for enhancing the experience.
Observational StudyHighly CitedThe Uncommon Impact of Common Environmental Details on Walking in Older Adults
Common environmental features like steps, curbs, and uneven pavements can complicate older adults' outdoor mobility, while handrails and benches support and encourage movement, with perceptions playing a significant role in behavior.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalContribution of streetscape audits to explanation of physical activity in four age groups based on the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS).
Microscale environmental attributes, such as streetscape design and aesthetics, are significantly related to physical activity across all age groups, suggesting that improving these features could create activity-friendly environments.
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