Built Environment Correlates of the Propensity of Walking and Cycling

Longzhu Xiao, Linchuan Yang, Jixiang Liu and Hongtai Yang
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Longzhu Xiao: Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Linchuan Yang: Department of Urban and Rural Planning, School of Architecture and Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Jixiang Liu: Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Hongtai Yang: School of Transportation and Logistics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 20, 1-16

Abstract: Walking and cycling are not only frequently-used modes of transport but also popular physical activities. They are beneficial to traffic congestion mitigation, air pollution reduction, and public health promotion. Hence, examining and comparing the built environment correlates of the propensity of walking and cycling is of great interest to urban practitioners and decision-makers and has attracted extensive research attention. However, existing studies mainly look into the two modes separately or consider them as an integral (i.e., active travel), and few compare built environment correlates of their propensity in a single study, especially in the developing world context. Thus, this study, taking Xiamen, China, as a case, examines the built environment correlates of the propensity of walking and cycling simultaneously and compares the results wherever feasible. It found (1) built environment correlates of the propensity of walking and cycling differ with each other largely in direction and magnitude; (2) land use mix, intersection density, and bus stop density are positively associated with walking propensity, while the distance to the CBD (Central Business District) is a negative correlate; (3) as for cycling propensity, only distance to CBD is a positive correlate, and job density, intersection density, and bus stop density are all negative correlates. The findings of this study have rich policy implications for walking and cycling promotion interventions.

Keywords: built environment; walking; cycling; propensity; comparative study; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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