Gendered morphologies and walking: Evidence from smartphone tracking data among young adults in Barcelona

Abstract

It is well established that urban form can encourage or hinder daily walking activity. Consequently, urban form has a direct impact on both spatial accessibility and the ability of achieving daily physical activity recommendations. However, the relationship between urban form and walking patterns may present relevant differences among different population subgroups, for instance in terms of gender. In order to analyse how the relationship between urban form and daily walking time might be modulated by gender, the present study aims to explore walking patterns of men and women living in different neighbourhood types in Barcelona Metropolitan Region (Spain). For this purpose, the study uses data extracted from a smartphone tracking app among a rather specific population group: young adults who commute daily to the same destination. The findings show that compact urban forms promote gender equality. The study especially sheds light on the disadvantaged position of young women living in small towns and suburbs, who walk much less than other women and any men.

University Campus as a Complex Pedestrian Dynamic Network: A Case Study of Walkability Patterns at Texas Tech University

“…in which FPT 1 (i) is the FPT to the node required for a random walker following the isotropic random walk strategy defined by the transition matrix W (1) . Isotropic random walks are insensitive to the structural heterogeneity, defects, and boundaries of a graph.…”

“…The rapid urbanization and widespread use of cars have resulted in a decline in walking as a primary mode of transportation [1]. Modern American cities offer very limited opportunities for safe walking.…”

“…Moreover, a person walking outside an urban park or a recreational area may appear quite suspicious and, as a result, immediately attract police attention. However, in downtown city areas, there is a growing public preference for walking as a means to promote active and healthy lifestyles, while also addressing challenges such as air pollution and traffic congestion [1,2].…”

“…The physical environment of a university campus provides American students with a rare, if not unique, opportunity to experience walking not only as the most natural mode of transportation but also as a culture that positively impacts cognitive functions like creativity, memory, and concentration [1,3]. It also improves community health by promoting social interactions, economic aspects, and environmental impact [3][4][5].…”

“…However, the relationship between urban form and walking patterns may show significant differences among different population subgroups, for instance, in terms of gender [1].…”