Modeling the influence of built environment on pedestrian perceptions in colombian cities

Abstract

Walking is a cornerstone of urban mobility in Latin America. Therefore, policies that improve pedestrians' perception of the built environment are crucial for policymakers and researchers alike. This paper investigates the influence of built environment factors on perceptions of safety and comfort, as well as pedestrians' preferences for sidewalk characteristics in two Colombian cities: Barranquilla and Santa Marta. For this purpose, we designed a novel survey that combines a choice experiment using real images of residential and commercial areas with a set of perception indicators to estimate hybrid choice models. The study's findings have significant practical implications for urban planning and policy development. In the commercial sector, sidewalk width is the most relevant attribute, followed by obstacles and, to a lesser extent, the presence of pedestrians. In residential sectors, the attractiveness of the environment, the presence of pedestrians, the condition of the sidewalk, and the existence of obstacles are highly relevant in explaining pedestrian demand behavior. The hybrid model indicates that sidewalk width and the presence of obstacles impact the perception of comfort and safety in both sectors. On the other hand, the presence of pedestrians has a positive effect on safety but a negative effect on comfort. These results show that physical attributes of the built environment influence pedestrian perceptions. Improvements in pedestrian infrastructure and the building environment are necessary to encourage walking as an active mode of transportation. They include promoting mixed land use, widening sidewalks, removing obstacles, and maintaining them to ensure continuity and good condition.