Walk Urban

Walk Walk UrbanUrban

Brittany MontgomeryTUDTR

July 31, 2006

Macro-Scale Indicatorsfor the

Urban Pedestrian Environment

Walk Urban

Overview

• What is walkability and why is it important?• Measuring the urban pedestrian environment• World Bank’s role in addressing the walking

mode• Key caveats

Walk Urban

What is walkability?

“overall support for pedestrian travel in an area”

“Walkability takes into account the quality of pedestrian facilities, roadway conditions, land use patterns, community support, security, and comfort

for walking.”Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Walk Urban

Pedestrians: So what?

• Walkable cities SAVE LIVES• High demand for walkable cities• Better pedestrian environment poverty

reduction• Walking is sustainable

Walk Urban

Walkable Cities SAVE LIVES

• ¾ of US ped crashes are in places without traffic controls

• Record levels of investment London’s Child Fatalities 62% in 10 years

Walk Urban

Demand for Walkable Cities

Developing Cities Walking Modal Share

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Sao Pau

loBog

otaMex

ico C

ityMum

baiJa

karta

Kuala

Lumpu

rGua

ngzhou

Seoul

Bangk

ok

Ho Chi

Minh C

ityShij

iazhuan

gWuha

nJo

hanne

sburg

Nairobi

Dar es S

alaam

Addis

Ababa

Bamak

oOua

gadoug

ouNiam

eyM

odal

Sha

re (%

) Latin America

Asia Africa

Walk Urban

Demand for Walkable CitiesDeveloping Cities Non-Motorized and Public

Transport Modal Share

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Rio deJaneiro

Bogota Mexico City Manila Seoul Bangkok Abijan

Mod

al S

hare

(%)

Public

Non-Motorized

Walk Urban

Walkability Poverty Reduction

Who walks?Walking Commute Distance by Income in Mumbai

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0-1km 1-2km 2-3km 3-5km 5-10km

Walking Distance

% W

ithin

Dis

tanc

e/In

com

e C

ateg

ory

<5K

5K-7.5K

7.5K-10K

10K-20K

>20K

Income Categories (1K=1000 Rupees)

Walk Urban

Walkability Poverty Reduction

• Opportunity– MDGs #2, 3, 4, and 5

• Empowerment• Security

Walk Urban

Walking is a Sustainable Mode

• MDG #7• Air quality• Health

Walk Urban

Measuring Walkability

• Macro vs. Micro• Micro-level walkability assessment tools

– Checklists– L.O.S.– PERS

Walk Urban

Macro-Level Measurement

• Goals: – Identify to what degree the pedestrian

environment needs improvement

– Compare between cities of similar characteristics

Walk Urban

Macro Pedestrian Environment Dimensions

• Accessibility/Mobility• Safety• Security• Legal Provision• Public Expenditure

Walk Urban

Potential IndicatorsAccessibility/Mobility

• Average walking travel time per trip

Walk Urban

Potential IndicatorsSafety

• Pedestrian fatalities/population

“fear of fatal road accidents has curtailed walking along the major corridors because of difficulties associated with crossing the

road at various intersections”SSATP Non-Motorized Transport in African Cities

Walk Urban

Potential IndicatorsSecurity

• Pedestrian crime rate (muggings, etc.)

“Women were keenly aware of security issues; they feel

vulnerable to theft and assault, especially at nightbecause street lighting is

poor”A Lifetime of Walking: Wuhan

Walk Urban

Potential IndicatorsLegal Provision for Pedestrians

• Pedestrian rights– Functional Road Hierarchy

Walk Urban

Potential IndicatorsPublic Expenditure for Pedestrians

• Percent (%) of total urban infrastructure & maintenance funds spent on walking mode

Walk Urban

Potential IndicatorsSummary

Annual

Annual

Annual

Annual

3, 5, or 10 years

Collection Frequency

Current Data Availability

FairModerate% infra. & maint. funds spent on pedestrians

Public Expenditure

HighSimplePedestrian Rights

Legal Provision

Poor / under-reported

ModeratePedestrian crimes/ population

Security

Fair / under-reported

SimplePedestrian fatalities/ population

Safety

Fair / under-reported

DifficultAvg. walking trip time

Accessibility/Mobility

Data Accuracy

Simplicity of Measurement

Potential Indicator

Walkability Dimension

Walk Urban

City “Typing”/Classification

• Purpose• Various methods

– Population groups– Modal split/

motorization characteristics

Metro Land Area

Population

Motorization (vehicles/population)

Income

Modal Split

AdditionalData Needed

Walk Urban

What has the Bank done?

INPUT NEEDED!

Walk Urban

What can the Bank do?

• Encourage data collection • Benchmark indicators• Urban agency direction• Policy guidance – Functional Road Hierarchy • Pedestrian project funding

Walk Urban

Key Caveats

• Holistic approach• Social responsibility• Best sense of environment with least data