Planning Walkable Neighborhoods

Abstract

Despite growing numbers of studies on planning walkable neighborhoods, few have included people with diverse abilities across the age spectrum. This article demonstrates a need for more inclusion of human diversity in walkable neighborhoods research to better inform policy, planning, and design interventions that are spatially and socially just for all ages and all abilities. Our study addresses this through a critical review of the literature, highlighting existing research practices, known person–environment influences on walkability, and limitations within current knowledge. We recommend future integrated and inclusive research directions to encapsulate diversity of abilities and ages in walkable neighborhood studies.

Improved Usability of Pedestrian Environments After Dark for People with Vision Impairment: an Intervention Study

“…However, few existing environments comply with current regulations designed to make the built environment accommodate vision-impaired pedestrians. This shortcoming has been highlighted by several studies, which have revealed that the pedestrian environment lacks (among other things) walkways in adequate condition, resting places, crossings, refuges, and street lighting, and both natural and artificial guidelines such as guidance and warning surfaces [9,[16][17][18][20][21][22][23]. Key characteristics of walkways that promote equal opportunities for walking in the urban environment for people with vision impairment include accessible, obstacle-free, and smooth surfaces, and readily identifiable, continuous, and unambiguous routes and/or walkways [24,25].…”

“…The accessibility and usability of the built environment has been highlighted in recent decades as an important factor affecting the welfare of people with disabilities and older people in many countries around the world [7,8]. Despite this, the urban built environment continues to impose restrictions on people with diverse impairments, including those with vision impairment, limiting their opportunities for social participation and mobility [9].…”

Neighbourhood perceptions and older adults’ wellbeing: Does walking explain the relationship in deprived urban communities?

“…Therefore, while walking, as a mode of active travel has the potential to promote population health and wellbeing more attention needs to be paid to different populations groups and urban contexts in order to avoid perpetuating rather than addressing social exclusion and health inequalities for marginalised groups (Stafford and Baldwin, 2018). Therefore, despite increasing attention being paid to the potential of the built environment to support wellbeing, partly because it can support active travel, it important to consider how the built environment supports walking and wellbeing for those who rely more heavily on walking as a mode of transport.…”

A Theoretical Model for Urban Walking Among People With Disabilities

“…Also, the neighborhood has received special attention since this is where people interact regularly and most walking activities occur (Amérigo, 2002;Brown et al, 2007;Shigematsu et al, 2009;Bonaiuto and Alves, 2012;Van Dyck et al, 2013;Ferreira et al, 2016;Johansson et al, 2016). However, these research efforts are primarily based upon a view of pedestrians that does not include disabilities, failing, therefore, to capture human diversity and needs across vulnerable groups of society such as that of people with different types of functional abilities (World Health Organization [WHO], 2011; Stafford and Baldwin, 2018).…”