Assessing Walkability in Riyadh’s Commercial Streets: Public Perceptions and Prioritization

Bander Fahad Alkrides (), Tracy Washington, Mark Limb and Debra Cushing
Additional contact information
Bander Fahad Alkrides: Riyadh Region Municipality, P.O. Box 2770, Riyadh 11146, Saudi Arabia
Tracy Washington: City 4.0 Lab, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Mark Limb: City 4.0 Lab, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Debra Cushing: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-29

Abstract: Urban sustainability is closely linked to walkability, as it impacts social interaction, public health, and economic development. In megacities like Riyadh, where automobiles dominate mobility, the development of pedestrian infrastructure remains inadequate. An online survey was conducted through public sampling to evaluate walking conditions in central Riyadh’s commercial districts. The 302 participants evaluated 49 critical walkability indicators to determine their significance and satisfaction with the current conditions. Gap analysis and a displeasure measurement framework identified pedestrian challenges. Participants acknowledged the importance of walkability aspects but expressed strong dissatisfaction with existing conditions. Key barriers to pedestrian comfort included inadequate facilities, environmental discomfort, weak safety measures, and cultural driving preferences. The study highlighted crucial walkability issues requiring improvement, such as public toilets, shaded pathways, air quality, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The findings emphasize the need for targeted policy interventions in Riyadh’s commercial districts to enhance pedestrian accessibility and comfort, to promote urban sustainability through improved walkability. This study offers a methodological advancement by combining Relative Importance Index, gap analysis, and a novel disgruntlement measurement framework to assess walkability. The use of 49 Delphi-derived indicators contextualized within a GCC megacity adds a unique perspective to urban sustainability research. The findings inform both local policy and global urban studies by demonstrating how culturally and climatically adaptive walkability metrics can guide equitable, data-driven interventions.

Keywords: walkability; sustainability; GCC; Delphi; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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