Walkability: a review of trends

Abstract

ABSTRACT Walkability has emerged as not only a set of indexes and metrics but a normative discourse. This review of walkability studies draws on English, Spanish and Portuguese literatures, as well as case studies evaluating pedestrian walking in cities. In recent literature reviews, a pattern emerges of studies agreeing on relatively consistent factors while identifying problems with metrics. However, these studies continue to operate on an aggregate level, often without differentiating pedestrians by gender, age, and ability. The lack of higher-order socioeconomic and affective factors such as social norms and comfort reflects a lack of attention to diversity. The ubiquitous importance of hand-held mobile devices, although undercut by the lack of a single mobile platform, suggests the possibility of crowd-sourced assessments. GIS and GPS tools allow emerging professional practices focused on walkability audits.