Analysis of Stated Preferences for Accessible Services and Commerce in a Walkable Distance from Home

Abstract

Abstract Walkable neighborhoods allow a variety of activities and opportunities for social encounters, through improved accessibility to commerce, public services and other facilities. Non-motorized mode choices (walking and cycling) have been promoted by governments and cities due to the substantial body of evidence on their contributions to environmental, social and economic aspects of urban sustainability (Sallis et al. 2015; Talen and Koschinsky 2013). However, non-motorized transport has not been promoted in the planning and design of many cities in Israel (and other countries as well). In light of this, and in the context of the crisis condition of the Israeli housing market in recent years, it is of interest to examine the housing preferences for walking distance to land uses in Israeli neighborhoods. A stated-preference analysis was conducted using a choice-based conjoint analysis, based on data collected from 184 respondents of a cross-sectional, online survey. The results indicate an overall preference toward apartments that are in a walkable distance from a commercial street, rather than a shopping mall. Another finding is that apartments in a walkable distance from education facilities were preferred over apartments in a walkable distance from medical clinics. Yet another significant finding is that the apartment location and its price affect choice in a similar magnitude. Based on the findings, the paper provides some policy recommendations, and discusses generalization of these findings to other countries.