Walking toward Metro Stations: the Contribution of Distance, Attitudes, and Perceived Built Environment

Mohammad Paydar, Asal Kamani Fard and Mohammad Mehdi Khaghani
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Mohammad Paydar: Escuela de Arquitectura Temuco, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad Mayor, Av. Alemania 281, Temuco 4780000, Chile
Asal Kamani Fard: Academic Researcher, Universidad Católica del Maule, San Miguel 3605, Talca, Chile
Mohammad Mehdi Khaghani: Department of Urban Studies, Apadana Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz 7187985443, Iran

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 24, 1-19

Abstract: Walking as an active means of travel is important as a sustainable mode of transport. Moreover, the level of walking in the surrounding areas of metro stations would contribute to maintaining the minimum rate of physical activity and, therefore, inhabitants’ general health. This study examined the impacts of walking attitude, walking distance, and perceived built environment on walking behavior for reaching the metro stations in Shiraz, Iran. Three metro stations were selected and a quantitative approach was used to examine the objectives. It was found that the average walking distance is less than the average in developed countries, such as the United States. People walked more when there was a shorter distance between their starting points and the metro stations. The contribution of walking attitudes and several built environment attributes to walking behavior was demonstrated. Finding the contribution of aesthetic attributes, such as accessibility to parks and housing types of the starting points of the walking trips, to walking for transport are taken into account as the novelties of this study. Policy makers of this city may apply the findings of this study—especially around the metro stations—to improve the average walking distance as well as walking behavior.

Keywords: walking for transport; average walking distance; perceived built environment; metro stations; aesthetic attributes; land use type (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 (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10291-:d:459428

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