Measuring the effects of street network configurations on walking in Seoul, Korea

Many scholars have confirmed the close correlation between street network configurations and pedestrian behavior. To elaborate on this discussion and to analyze the connection between street layout and walking using sophisticated methods, we attempt to capture the links and surrounding network features of urban street patterns. To this end, we employ the following four elements: closeness, betweenness, severance, and efficiency. Our empirical study examines street network configurations via a multi-scale network radius. The results show that locations with closer destinations and areas where people pass more frequently throughout a given network are associated with higher walking volume. Furthermore, a greater resemblance between straight-line and path distances from origins to destinations tend to encourage walking mobility. A longer convex hull, with a maximum radius that covers a wider shape and structure of links, is the most favorable setting for walking within a radius of up to 500 m. We confirm that a higher convex hull-shape index reveals more deviation from the circularity of a street network's convex hull. This negatively affects walking within a radius of 1-2 km. We conclude that link and network radius-based attributes of street formations have significant effects on the spatial variations of walking within multi-scale walkable neighborhoods. The framework and results are intended to help with the design of pedestrian-friendly street patterns and to create sustainable and livable cities.