Integrating Perceptions, Physical Features and the Quality of the Walking Route into an Existing Accessibility Tool: The Perceived Environment Walking Index (PEWI)

Abstract

Perceptions of the environment shape individual mobility decisions and represent the ‘lived reality’ of accessibility and walkability. Yet recent common walkability analyses and instruments try to include perceptions of different population groups without integrating them into practical tools. However, there is a need for a holistic tool as a basis for transport planners and researchers to integrate the various aspects of walkability into one instrument. This paper investigates multiple relations between different walkability concept parameters and presents the development of the Perceived Environment Walking Index (PEWI). To achieve this, we used a multi-method study design and developed and tested the PEWI in two urban neighbourhoods in Hamburg in three steps. First, we calculated the objective walking accessibility using GIS based on the well-known Walk Score®. Second, we integrated 18 indicators representing physical features and the quality of the walking route, alongside subjective perceptions of walking accessibility broken down into the categories of functionality, safety and security as well as pleasantness and attractiveness. Key results imply that integrating these indicators into an existing accessibility tool is a promising, nuanced method for an improved picture of walkability and accessibility whereas indices focusing only on distances or travel times are not sufficient to represent the lived reality. The implications of our results are discussed with regard to future research gaps and policy.