Understanding the Impact of Street Patterns on Pedestrian Distribution: A Case Study in Tianjin, China

Qiang Sheng,Tianyu Pang,Junfeng Jiao

doi:10.1007/s40864-021-00152-9

Qiang Sheng, Tianyu Pang + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40864-021-00152-9

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Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of street pattern, metro stations, and density of urban functions on pedestrian distribution in Tianjin, China. Thirteen neighborhoods are selected from the city center and suburbs. Pedestrian and vehicle volumes are observed through detailed gate count from 703 street segments in these neighborhoods. Regression models are constructed to analyze the impact of the street pattern, points of interest (POIs), and vehicle and metro accessibility on pedestrian volumes in each neighborhood and across the city. The results show that when analyzing all neighborhoods together, local street connectivity and POIs had a strong influence on pedestrian distribution. Proximity to metro stations and vehicle accessibility had a minor impact. When analyzing each neighborhood separately, both local- and city-scale street patterns affect pedestrian distributions. These findings suggest that the street pattern provides a base layer for metro stations to attract both the emergence of active urban functions and pedestrian movement.

Highlights

While modern cities that are undergoing rapid development in newly industrialized countries normally benefit from the construction of mega-scale infrastructure, they suffer from severe traffic problems
This paper investigates the impact of street pattern, metro stations, and density of urban functions on pedestrian distribution in Tianjin, China
The results show that when analyzing all neighborhoods together, local street connectivity and points of interest (POIs) had a strong influence on pedestrian distribution

Summary

Introduction

While modern cities that are undergoing rapid development in newly industrialized countries normally benefit from the construction of mega-scale infrastructure, they suffer from severe traffic problems. The first category primarily addresses the issue of walkability based on ‘‘comfort and safety,’’ which aims to evaluate the impact of physical environment (ranging from pavement, shading, street furniture, and other physical conditions) on walking activities. Through questionnaires, these studies measure the influence of these factors on either people’s willingness to walk or their sense of safety and comfort while walking, while measuring how these variables affect frequency of walking [6, 7]. This research falls under the direction of the second category, focusing on how street patterns can affect both the distribution of land uses as well as the pedestrian volume within cities

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