Walkability Perception in Asian Cities: A Comparative Study in Bangkok and Nagoya

Varameth Vichiensan,Kazuki Nakamura

doi:10.3390/su13126825

Abstract

Asian cities are unique, where people may need more than just walking; however, the walkability research in a local context has received less attention. This paper analyses the walking needs and the influential factors of walking behavior in Asian cities. A comparative analysis in Bangkok and Nagoya is presented, taking into account the characteristics of local street design and development. Street evaluation experiments of various streets are conducted through 360-degree videos. The factor analyses indicate that the walking needs in both cities can be considered in two levels, but the components of the needs are different. Being smooth and having no obstacles are common basic needs. Safety and security are regarded as basic needs in Nagoya, but as higher-level needs in Bangkok. Attractiveness of activity and walk pleasure are the common upper-level needs. Street elements such as width, green, traffic, parking, pollution exposure, and activity are found to be influential on the walking needs. The structural equation models indicate that higher-level needs have more of an influence than the lower-level needs for walking behavior in Bangkok and for shop walking in Nagoya, while the basic need has more influence on walking willingness for transit access. These findings call for practical attention for street design and development where local context and street functions must be carefully considered.

Highlights

Walking used to be one of the charms of Asian cities in the old days, where vibrance and liveliness were unique characteristics
Based on global walkability index (GWI), the walkability of 13 Asian cities was evaluated by various items, including conflicts between pedestrians and other traffic, the availability of walking paths, availability of crossings, grade crossing safety, motorist behavior, amenities, disability infrastructure, obstructions, and security from crime, and the results revealed a low walkability in Asian cities [23]
This study found that activities fulfill the walking needs in terms of comfort and pleasurability, complying with the literature finding them to be part of enjoyment [4] or urbanity [10], and having unique and wider roles [40,46]

Summary

Introduction

Walking used to be one of the charms of Asian cities in the old days, where vibrance and liveliness were unique characteristics. Activities in public spaces, in connection with walking, such as a street food or vending, are well-known examples. During the period of rapid motorization, attention and priority were given to cars rather than to pedestrian traffic. A lot of public space was allocated for road development rather than walking facilities. Large roads only allocated a certain amount of side pavement, namely the residual parts of vehicular spaces, to pedestrians, without any proper design. Small streets are likely to ignore spatial design for pedestrians, causing numerous conflicts among various street users. Many Asian cities are becoming less walkable, resulting in more accidents with pedestrians, inconvenience, and exposure to pollution

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