Walkability as a Performance Indicator for Urban Spaces

Abstract

This paper frames walkability as a performance indicator for urban spaces and critically addresses some of the existing evaluation methods. It introduces alternative strategies and tools for enabling the collective evaluation of walkability and discusses how experiences of the citizens can possibly lead to a social construct of walkability. This discussion is elaborated by a pilot study which includes exploratory research, social-geographic web services and heat maps. Using these tools and methods, it was possible to derive various experiential and environmental spatial qualities, extract problems and identify problematic areas. From these we have learned that walkability may serve as a fruitful conversation framework and a participatory research concept. Furthermore, we were able to develop ideas for solutions to design and planning problems.