Visual Walkability in Wangjing Area from the Perspective of Young Men

This paper mainly evaluated the walkability of the streets around the subway Futong Station in Wangjing area,and with the help of relevant theoretical research conclusions such as environmental behavioral psychology,to study the effect of the visual walkability of streets in different communities on the walking activities of young male residents.Through in-depth analysis of the characteristics of streets that are suitable for walking and young male residents like to walk,practical and feasible reference suggestions were provided for the design of street public space and the establishment of a more livable urban environment.The text was divided into 3 parts:the determination of the functional types of the streets around Futong Station;the characteristics of young men's crowd activities and the establishment of an evaluation system;the visual walkability evaluation of the streets around Futong Station.

Walkability Assessment of Microclimatic Environments of Six Typical Communities in Central Urban Area of Beijing from the Perspective of the Elderly

Community walking space is the most used space in residents’daily life,such as commuting and walking,and is also the most basic type of space for outdoor activities.The microclimatic environment of walking space not only affects the health status of residents,but also determines the service effi ciency of outdoor public space.Based on actual measurement and simulation of microclimatic environment,the status quo of walkability of microclimatic environments in six typical communities is evaluated by quantitative methods,and general problems and optimization suggestions are put forward,in order to provide new ideas for future community environment transformation.

The Thai GoodWalk Index and the Thai Walkability Index:their application to urban regeneration exemplified by a historic riverside neighbourhood in Bangkok,Thailand

The urban heritage regeneration strategy through walkability is widely accepted.However,in the context of a developing country,the tools to measure walkability,which are crucial for urban planning and development,still need to be improved.This article investigates ways to revitalise a run-down historic riverside area in Bangkok.It develops two indices,the Thai GoodWalk Index(TGWI)and the Thai Walkability Index(TWI).A hybrid of both indices is based on geospatial techniques and technology to optimise problem analysis processes,create problem-solving options,enhance spatial site selection decision capabilities,and assist urban planners in carrying out spatial scenario planning processes.It demonstrates how the GoodWalk Index has been employed to plan and prioritise urban development projects.This is exemplified by the Master Plan for the Regeneration of Kadeejeen-Klongsan,a historic riverside neighbourhood in Bangkok with limitations in density,functional mix of spaces,and access networks,especially in riverfront areas.The TGWI and TWI can be applied to the regeneration of other historic districts throughout Thailand.

Current design guidelines’streetscape improvement for visual perception and walkability:A case study of Sejong City,Republic of Korea

This study explores how recent design guidelines have focused on the visual variety of streetscapes making them more attractive.To date,this topic has been one of the most challenging parts of constructing walkable streets.We evaluated the streetscape features of Sejong City,recently constructed as Republic of Korea’s new capital city,and investigated their relationships with design guidelines.Consequently,we identified three principal reasons related to the design guidelines for the visual monotony in the street produced by the most up-to-date design guidelines compared with an ordinary street.First,the design guidelines cannot restrict the construction of large-scale buildings on the street,hindering visual changes caused by the zoning ordinance regulations because zoning regulations took priority when it comes to urban planning and regulatory governance.Second,design standards intending for a consistent street wall of buildings,which were used only in regard to the street enclosure standard,produced less spatial diversity and indistinct building bases,presenting weak vertical articulation.Third,applying the uniform standards for each building created repetitive architecture despite design standards for visual variety,such as recessed top floors,arcades,and retail uses for the ground floors facing a street.

Exploring multidimensional aspects of walkability:An innovative analysis approach in Besiktas,Istanbul

This study develops a holistic approach that underlines the effect of spatial,behavioral,and perceptional dimensions on walkability at the neighborhood scale.The study recognizes quantitatively measured tangible factors and qualitatively assessed intangible values to evaluate the level of walkability in Besiktas,Istanbul(Turkey).The research explores the independent and combined effects of physical characteristics,individual perceptions,and walking behavior on walkability.Geographic Information Systems urban analyses,space syntax analysis,and observation to establish an analytical framework for spatial and behavioral dimensions of walkability in Besiktas central district are used as a methodology.Additionally,perceptional data is gathered through an experimental approach,which involves participants walking along pre-determined routes using cartography techniques and employing“shared walks”as a mobile method.The results of study confirmed previous findings from studies that the physical,social,and typological attributes of the built environment have a significant correlation between walking behavior and the physical and social aspects of the built environment.This study provides a comprehensive walkability assessment framework,encompassing quantitative and qualitative dimensions.By incorporating spatial,behavioral,and perceptual dimensions,this approach provides an efficient and integrated analytical methodology for evaluating walkability,distinguishing itself with its originality in the field of walkability research.

Built environment and childhood obesity

Childhood obesity,an escalating global health challenge,is intricately linked to the built environment in which children live,learn,and play.This review and perspective examined the multifaceted relationship between the built environment and childhood obesity,offering insights into potential interventions for prevention.Factors such as urbanization,access to unhealthy food options,sedentary behaviors,and socioeconomic disparities are critical contributors to this complex epidemic.Built environment encompasses the human-modified spaces such as homes,schools,workplaces,and urban areas.These settings can influence children’s physical activity levels,dietary habits,and overall health.The built environment can be modified to prevent childhood obesity by enhancing active transportation through the development of safe walking and cycling routes,creating accessible and inviting green spaces and play areas,and promoting healthy food environments by regulating fast-food outlet density.School design is another area for intervention,with a focus on integrating outdoor spaces and facilities that promote physical activity and healthy eating.Community engagement and education in reinforcing healthy behaviors is necessary,alongside the potential of technology and innovation in encouraging physical activity among children.Policy and legislative support are crucial for sustaining these efforts.In conclusion,addressing the built environment in the fight against childhood obesity requires the need for a comprehensive,multipronged approach that leverages the built environment as a tool for promoting healthier lifestyles among children,ultimately paving the way for a healthier,more active future generation.

Measuring Pedestrian Stress Response (MPSR) Using Wearable Technologies

Walkability is an essential aspect of urban transportation systems. Properly designed walking paths can enhance transportation safety, encourage pedestrian activity, and improve community quality of life. This, in turn, can help achieve sustainable development goals in urban areas. This pilot study uses wearable technology data to present a new method for measuring pedestrian stress in urban environments and the results were presented as an interactive geographic information system map to support risk-informed decision-making. The approach involves analyzing data from wearable devices using heart rate variability (RMSSD and slope analysis) to identify high-stress locations. This data-driven approach can help urban planners and safety experts identify and address pedestrian stressors, ultimately creating safer, more walkable cities. The study addresses a significant challenge in pedestrian safety by providing insights into factors and locations that trigger stress in pedestrians. During the pilot study, high-stress pedestrian experiences were identified due to issues like pedestrian-scooter interaction on pedestrian paths, pedestrian behavior around high foot traffic areas, and poor visibility at pedestrian crossings due to inadequate lighting.

Walking experience:Exploring the trilateral interrelation of walkability,temporal perception,and urban ambiance

Walking experience through urban spaces is a frequent daily activity.Thus,planning and designing for walkability become crucial for building up quality of life.Our daily walks around the city are affected by fulfilling the needed psychological contentment that is in turn measured unconsciously by our temporal perception.This contentment is inherent in what we experience in accordance with urban ambiance that goes beyond the spatial attributes of spaces to include their social and sensorial dimensions.Thus,the question here is how walkability of urban routes is affected by urban ambiance and therefore perceived in terms of time.Therefore,this study aims to understate the trilateral interrelation of walkability,temporal perception,and urban ambiance in walkable routes for daily routine use.This work depends on an experimental study where participants are asked to walk along two selected routes.Data-gathering tools rely on documenting the lived experience of the target group via reporting their trips and answering a questionnaire.Pattern analysis demonstrates this trilateral interrelation to clarify the interplay.This study concludes specific qualities of walkable routes for routine use that reduce sense of time,which is highly crucial to be realized in such daily walk journeys.

Walking-friendly built environments and objectively measured physical function in older adults

Background:Few studies have examined the associations between urban design attributes and older adults’physical function.Especially,it is not well known how built-environment attributes may influence physical function in Asian cities.The aim of this study was to examine associations between objectively measured environmental attributes of walkability and objectively assessed physical function in a sample of Japanese older adults.Methods:Cross-sectional data collected in 2013 from 314 older residents(aged 65-84 years)living in Japan were used.Physical function was estimated from objectively measured upper-and lower-body function,mobility,and balance by a trained research team member.A comprehensive list of built-environment attributes,including population density,availability of destinations,intersection density,and distance to the nearest public transport station,were objectively calculated.Walk Score as a composite measure of neighborhood walkability was also obtained.Results:Among men,higher population density,availability of destinations,and intersection density were significantly associated with better physical function performance(1-legged stance with eyes open).Higher Walk Score was also marginally associated with better physical function performance(1-legged stance with eyes open).None of the environmental attributes were associated with physical function in elderly women.Conclusion:Our findings indicate that environmental attributes of walkability are associated with the physical function of elderly men in the context of Asia.Walking-friendly neighborhoods can not only promote older adults’active behaviors but can also support their physical function.

Differences in transportation and leisure physical activity by neighborhood design controlling for residential choice

Background:Cross-sectional studies provide useful insight about the associations between the built environment and physical activity(PA),particularly when reasons for neighborhood choice are considered.Our study analyzed the relationship between levels of weekly transportation and leisure PA among 3 neighborhood designs,statistically adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and reasons for neighborhood choice.Methods:A stratified random sample of adults(age>20 years)living in Calgary(Canada)neighborhoods with different neighborhood designs(grid,warped-grid,and curvilinear)and socioeconomic status completed a self-administered questionnaire capturing PA,sociodemographic characteristics,and reasons for neighborhood choice(response rate=10.1%;n=1023).Generalized linear models estimated associations between neighborhood design and transportation and leisure PA outcomes(participation(any vs.none)and volume(metabolic equivalent:h/week)),adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic status,sociodemographic characteristics(gender,age,ethnicity,education,household income,marital status,children,vehicle access,dog ownership,and injury),and reasons for neighborhood choice(e.g.,proximity and quality of recreational and utilitarian destinations,proximity to work,highway access,aesthetics,and sense of community).Results:Overall,854 participants had resided in their neighborhood for at least 12 months and provided complete data.Compared with those living in curvilinear neighborhoods,grid neighborhood participants had greater odds(p<0.05)of participating in any transportation walking(odds ratio(OR)=2.17),transportation and leisure cycling(OR=2.39 and OR=1.70),active transportation(OR=2.16),and high-intensity leisure PA(≥6 metabolic equivalent;OR=1.74),respectively.There were no neighborhood differences in the volume of any transportation or leisure PA undertaken.Adjustment for neighborhood selection had minimal impact on the statistical or practical importance of model estimates.Conclusion:Neighborhood design is associated with PA patterns in adults,independent of reasons for neighborhood choice and sociodemogranhic factors.

Identifying and promoting safe walking routes in older adults

Background: Walking for physical activity is important for older adults' physical and mental health. We developed and tested the reliability of an environmental audit tool designed to be used by lay people to identify appropriate walking routes for older adults trying to increase their physical activity. Methods: A 44-item Walking Route Audit Tool for Seniors (WRATS) was developed based on literature review and input from older adults during focus groups. Observers completed the tool for 24 walking routes which were specifically selected to maximize variability in environment features and quality. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using Kappa and percent agreement. Results: Inter-rater reliability was good to excellent for 27 of the 44 WRATS items and moderate for 9 items. ICCs were good to excellent for 6 of the 8 scales (ICCs = 0.61 to 0.90). Conclusions: These results provide evidence for the reliability of WRATS for evaluating environmental attributes of walking routes suitable for older adults. Some scales need further refinement, and validity should be tested in a sample of older adults.

The walking distance decay law of amenity selection based on binary logistic model

The current measuring methods of walkability,such as the walk score,consider that walking distance decay laws for all amenities are the same,which is not applicable to typical communities in China with plentiful resources.Therefore,the walking distance decay laws of multi-type and multi-scale facilities are studied.Firstly,based on the residents'amenity selection survey,the walking distance decay law of residents'choice of amenity was studied from three aspects,including the law of all amenities,the laws of different types of amenities and the laws of different scales of amenities.It was proved that the walking distance decay laws of different kinds of amenities showed a significant difference.Secondly,different amenities'acceptable walking distance and optimum walking distance were obtained according to previous studies and the decay curve.Amenities with higher attraction and/or a larger scale showed a longer acceptable walking distance and optimum walking distance.Finally,the binary logistic model was used to describe the relationships between walking distance,amenity type,amenity scale and the probability of one amenity being selected,the prediction accuracy of which reached 80.4%.The calculated probability obtained from the model can be used as the decay coefficient of amenities in the measurement of walkability,providing a reference for the site selection and evaluation of amenities.

The built environment correlates of objectively measured physical activity in Norwegian adults:A cross-sectional study

Background: Built environments that are designed to provide accessible, attractive, and convenient locales promote regular physical activity(PA).Norway has great variability in its geographic, natural, and built environment features. Urban areas have well-developed built environment features, whereas the rural areas are less walkable and this may influence the mode of transport. In general, active transport is more common in urban centers. Further, public transportation is more developed in urban areas, whereas motorized transport may be more widespread in the rural areas. Despite this, in Sogn & Fjordane, a rural county in western Norway, high PA levels are frequently observed. Thus, the aims of this study were to(1) explore perceived built environment features and characterize their associations with objectively measured PA levels in Norwegian adults and(2) explore the differences in these correlates between Sogn & Fjordane and the rest of Norway.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants used questionnaires to rate perceptions of their built environments, and their PA was objectively measured for 7 consecutive days using the Acti Graph GT1 M accelerometer. There were 972 Norwegian adults who were included in the study. The average age was 46.9 ± 6.5 years and 43.8% of participants were men. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.Results: Total PA and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA) were both associated with perceived walkability, the community perception score, and active transport for commuting(all p ≤ 0.004). We also observed geographic-area-specific associations: the community perception score was negatively associated with total PA and MVPA in the rest of Norway(p ≤ 0.012) but not in Sogn & Fjordane. Public transport for commuting was positively associated with MVPA in Sogn & Fjordane(p = 0.03) but not in the rest of Norway.Conclusion: Total PA level and MVPA were associated with built environment factors, such as perceptions of community, perceived walkability,and engaging in active transport for commuting. Geographic differences in the PA correlates were observed, and thus, locally customized environmental population approaches aimed at increasing PA levels may be essential complements to individual behavior and lifestyle strategies.Further, objective measures of Norwegian built environments, such as geographic information system data, and validated walk-and bike-scores would advance the field.

Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) Using Space Syntax: A Case Study of Urban Parks in the South of Brazil

This study is based on strategies for reading and representing the environment,associated with the theory of social logic of space(space syntax).The general objective of this study is to understand and compare the use of space syntax in relation to connectivity,integration and choice of axial routes of the urban parks of Porto Alegre,in the state of Rio Grande do Sul,south of Brazil.The method applied was the capture of georeferenced images for data analysis by using the Theory of Space Syntax(TSE).Thus,three variables were considered for interpretation:choice,connectivity and integration,and they were correlated to statistical data on urban morphology.The results demonstrated the possibility of obtaining significant improvements in the studied urban parks due to the need to create guidelines related to connection and integration that directly impact users'choice strategies when they move around the city.

Pedestrians Mobility on Public Sidewalks Evaluated by the IAAPE Method

This research aims to evaluate walkability as a strategy of urban mobility in relation to physical characteristics of accessibility and attractiveness from public sidewalks characteristics in the city of Passo Fundo/RS-Brazil using the IAAPE （indicators of attraction and pedestrian accessibility） method. The concept of walkability corresponds to the simple act of walking in a pleasant way along the footpaths. Therefore, the IAAPE method was used, which considers aspects of connectivity, comfort, conviviality, coexistence, convenience, clarity and commitment in relation to the space evaluated. In this study, 40 adults, elderly, pregnant and wheelchair subjects were interviewed for evaluating the importance criteria on public sidewalks for a given type of user. In general, reduced sidewalk dimensions and obstacle presence are the main displacement hurdles in most of the cases analyzed. Thus, improvements are needed to avoid stress situations that arise from daily routine, to encourage physical activities, accessibility, and the emergence of meeting and leisure points.

Developing a Sustainable Mobility Plan in Piraeus with Special Emphasis on Cycling

Sustainable mobility planning is an emerging planning concept, largely applied in European and American cities during the last two decades, as a means to achieve more efficient and sustainable cities regarding the ceasing of the major threats to urban environment, namely： climate change, accidents, traffic saturation, air and noise pollution, car dependency and domination in the public space. Municipality of Piraeus is a developing autonomous commercial and business center, characterized by high density housing, narrow street geometric characteristics and the port presence. Aim of this paper is to present its recent sustainable mobility plan by putting special emphasis on the strategic plan for a cycling network. The key principles of its methodological development are demonstrated along with the strategic enhancement of walking and multimodal transport services. The main objective is to integrate cycling in mobility policies applied by the described plan in Piraeus.

二线城市友好慢行空间景观设计探索

在探讨慢行友好型城市空间的必要性以及对“城市慢行交通”的理解基础上．结合作者在多个二线城市的设计工作经验，重点对友好慢行界面的多种创造手法进行探索与阐述，强调“慢行交通”的“慢”并非速度上的绝对慢，而是一种回归自然、轻松的，能引起大众群体产生场地认同感的意境，并期望引起类似从业设计者的共鸣及关注。

Case Study:Topography Integrated Urban Center Concept Project on Coastal Line of Kartal/İstanbul

The concept of creating a Topography integrated urban center is to create an urban center that integrated with the city.The first step of the Concept is to settle by using the natural elevation in the land and to create volumes compatible with land by raising together with the elevation.While the passenger circulation at starting elevation is moved into a project with the cavestyle volume settled in land elevation.The new area of the square to be defined in the center of the building is intended to form an area combining the neighboring squares Kartal Square and Freedom Square,as well as contributing to the silhouette of Kartal from the sea with the location of the square and building.The project is a central complex design that deals with various urban problems thanks to professionals,local people of Kartal,and clubs which established with the municipality in a comprehensive way to search for solutions to be organized urban workshops and conferences.