How street quality influences the walking experience: an inquiry into the perceptions of adults with diverse ages and disabilities

ABSTRACT

The benefits of walking are now well understood. However, there is still no consensus on what causes people to forego short walking trips. This study examined users’ perceptions on trips usually walked, as well as perceptions of desirable trips within walking distance but not walked. 56 adults with diverse disability statuses and ages, living in Auckland New Zealand, were interviewed. Content analysis was used to discover the perceived difficulties of walking and what lies behind the decision to walk (or not). Barriers to walking related to poor holistic quality of walking environments, including traffic, and infrastructure. The study confirmed the importance of the comparative qualities of transport alternatives in the choice of walking. Finally, disabled users suffer disproportionately from the burden of the transport system and often cannot travel spontaneously. Future research should focus on characterising barriers to walking perceived by users, which would provide useful insights for urban retrofit.

KEYWORDS:

• Walking
• perceptions
• behaviour
• barriers
• street environment
• active travel

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Ms Amber Hammill who edited this paper with great care, providing inestimable feedback.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Auckland University of Technology [Doctoral scholarship]; Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Council of New Zealand [17/013].

Notes on contributors

T. Bozovic

Dr T. Bozovic is a transport planner (EPFL 04) and PhD graduate from Auckland University of Technology. She is interested in urban systems design retrofit supporting low carbon transport, equity of access for people of all ages and abilities, public health and liveability.

E. Hinckson

Professor E. Hinckson is Head of School of Sport and Recreation at Auckland University of Technology. Taking a socio-ecological and community approach to her research, she is primarily focused on understanding the relationships, patterns, causes and effects of physical activity on health across the lifespan within the context of the built and physical environment.

T. Stewart

Dr T. Stewart is a Research Fellow and statistical advisor at the Human Potential Centre, AUT University. His research is broadly based in public health, with a focus on physical activity epidemiology and understanding the environmental determinants of health.

M. Smith

Professor M. Smith is Co-Associate Head of Research at the School of Nursing, the University of Auckland, Auckland New Zealand. Her research focuses on neighbourhood design, physical activity behaviours, and health outcomes.