2 3Pedestrian circulation is increasingly considered as an alternative and environmentally sustainable mode of transport, thus justifying the need for safe and efficient pedestrian infrastructure. One of the essential parameters for the design of this walking infrastructure is the walking speed adopted by pedestrians in different situations. In this context, the present research focused on the identification and evaluation of the effects that several factors have on pedestrian walking speed. Furthermore, a mathematical model estimating pedestrian walking speed according to the relevant variables was also developed, based on multiple linear regression techniques. In general, the conclusions of these analyses confirm the results found in the specialised literature, pointing to an average pedestrian walking speed of 1?25 m/s, with a minimum of 0?68 m/s and a maximum of 1?92 m/s. The final results confirmed the need for the development of technical guidelines that are appropriate for the design of footways in urban environments.Notation A x-y age group B pedestrian carrying bags B j regression coefficients (partials) associated with variables x i , with j 5 1, 2, …, k B 0 independent coefficient df degrees of freedom Diff. differences between observed and estimated speed FR frequency of the route Gen gender Gr longitudinal footway grade (%) GS group ip p level, statistical significance N sample p p value, critical value distribution RE route extension r 2 coefficient of determination r 2 adjusted adjusted coefficient of determination SE standard error t variable distribution of t Student or t test TD time of the day TR travel reasons V m mean pedestrian speed (m/s) V max maximum pedestrian speed (m/s) V min minimum pedestrian speed (m/s) V p footway estimated pedestrian speed (m/s) V 15 15th percentile of pedestrian speed (m/s) V 85 85th percentile of pedestrian speed (m/s) W E effective footway width (m) x i independent variables, with i 5 1, 2, …, k s standard deviation