Comparing the environment for elderly pedestrians among different-sized cities of Gyeonggi province in Korea

Abstract

The purposes of this study are to identify assessment indices for evaluating the environment for elderly pedestrians and to compare the pedestrian environment surrounding senior welfare centres among large, mid-size, and small cities. To that end, a set of assessment indices and weighted values were decided and field assessments were carried out in seven cities in Gyeonggi province. Research methods such as reviews of pedestrian assessment tools, field assessment, and an analytic hierarchy process survey were conducted. The comparative analysis of the assessment results suggests the following policy implications. First, Aesthetics including attractive views, tree shade, and building facades was found to be important, let alone Safety, which represents the presence of path and traffic control devices. Second, there is a considerable discrepancy in the pedestrian environment surrounding senior welfare centres between large cities and mid-to-small cities, which pose a serious impediment to both balanced urban development and senior citizens’ welfare. Third, it is important to develop easy-to-use assessment tools that are customized to the domestic pedestrian environment to enhance awareness about the local environment, as well as to draw more interest and participation to the improvement of the environment for elderly pedestrians.

Keywords:

• walking
• seniors
• audit instrument
• walkability
• physical environment

Funding

This work was supported by the Gachon University research fund of 2013 [GCU-2013-R334].