Kolloquium Geoinformatik Built-environment correlates of walking from metro in Beijing

In a recent study we tested associations between different characteristics of the built-environment and their influence on walking behaviour from metro stations to respective destinations. The study focused on the concern that in the planning process of metro stations typically little attention is paid to the walking conditions in the local and regional urban environment. Moreover, the integration of station facilities into the surrounding built-environment is also usually undertaken without bearing such aspects in mind. We collected data (N=493) on walking behaviour and the perception of the built-environment at six different study sites in China. Those localities comprise three distinct physical settings, e.g., modern neighbourhoods (built after 1980) or more classical old town sceneries. We accompanied willing participants to record walking routes from the metro station upon arrival at their particular destinations. Those participants were requested to record their personal impressions regarding attributes like pavement infrastructure, motor traffic and design aesthetics by means of a questionaire. This empirical dataset was then investigated in terms of GIS. We mapped the walking routes and coded built-environment variables. A multivariate linear regression model was employed for testing associations between different collected aspects and their influence on the walking behaviour around the metro stations. The results indicate that pedestrians take shorter walking times when they walk through areas which are characterised by retail or entertainment related facilities. In contrast, the walking time considerable increased as people were walking through a residential setting. Greater visual connectivity predicts a shorter walking time, while less motor traffic predicts a longer walking time. In conclusion, quantitative as well as qualitative aspects of the built-environment around metro stations have influence on the walking time from metro to destination. Visual connectivity and non-residential land uses around the metro station are associated with shorter walking time and thus may attract more metro riders.