Factors Affecting Walkability of Neighborhoods

Planning and designing for walking is crucial for promoting a healthy public life, creating sustainable neighborhoods, enhancing social life and economy. This research paper identifies the factors that contribute to increased urban walkability in order to improve neighborhood sustainability and public life. For the research to gauge the perception of walkability, a case study was conducted in a neighborhood that provided an opportunity to analyze the walking behavior of pedestrians in a variety of urban built environment. Mehrauli, one of the most traditional settlements in New Delhi, India, was taken up for primary case study as it functioned like an urban laboratory with both traditional and modern settlements in the same vicinity. Streets selected based on varying levels of usage by pedestrians were studied through activity mapping and public surveys to understand the underlying factors that led to certain streets being rendered more walkable than the others. The results showed that the most important factors affecting pedestrians’ perception of walkbility were related to the built envelop on either side of the streets. Factors relating to urban morphology like enclosure, block length and edge conditions were found crucial in creating the perception of a walkable neighborhood.