Walkable Route Perceptions and Physical Features: Converging Evidence for En Route Walking Experiences
- ISSN: 00139165
- DOI: 10.1177/0013916506295569
Abstract
Guided walks near a light rail stop in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, were examined using a 2 (gender) 3 (route walkability: low- mixed-, or high- walkability features) design. Trained raters confirmed that more walkable segments had more traffic, environmental, and social safety; pleasing aes- thetics; natural features; pedestrian amenities; and land use diversity (using the Irvine-Minnesota physical environment audit) and a superior social milieu rating. According to tape-recorded open-ended descriptions, univer- sity student participants experienced walkable route segments as noticeably safer, with a more positive social environment, fewer social and physical incivilities, and more attractive natural and built environment features. According to closed-ended scales, walkable route segments had more pleas- ant social and/or environmental atmosphere and better traffic safety. Few gender differences were found. Results highlight the importance of under- standing subjective experiences of walkability and suggest that these experi- ences should be an additional focus of urban design.
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