Modelling walking accessibility: A case study of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Walkable access is recognised as one of the most important factors for deciding to walk instead of using other modes of transport. Distance has been less accurately taken into consideration in previous walking accessibility measures, however, as they are often based on an isotropic approach or on a fixed distance threshold. The objective of this paper is to present a method of modelling continuous walking accessibility to different amenities in a city, with an integrated network-based and distance-decay approach, applied to a case study of the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The approach is based on a web survey to obtain data on acceptable walking distances to different types of amenities. Several distance decay functions were analysed for each type of amenity from the cumulative frequency of responses. The best fitting functions were used to model the walking accessibility surfaces for individual amenities in the network, representing five domains (retail, services, recreation, education and transportation) and an overall walking accessibility index. Despite certain limitations and a further need to assess the validity of the methods, our distance-decay network-based approach is more accurate than the isotropic or even network-based modelling of walking distances in continuous or threshold approaches, as it enables the researcher to take into account the differences in propensities to walk to different amenities. The results can be used by city authorities and planners for implementing actions to improve walking accessibility in the most problematic areas.

Public transport accessibility to upper secondary schools measured by the potential quotient: The case of Kraków

“…(2) determining the parameters of the adopted function. At the stage of looking for functions, tests were made with non-linear and linear regression models that would best reflect the relationship identified (Tiran, Lakner and Drobne, 2019). In the process of searching for the shape and parameters of the distance decay function, a linear regression model was used, and for this purpose the Statgraphics tool was used.…”

“…The process of estimating distance decay functions has been divided into two stages, using the methodology presented in Salze, Banos, Oppert, Charreire et al (2011) and Skov-Petersen ( 2001): (1) matching the type of impedance function; (2) determining the parameters of the adopted function. At the stage of looking for functions, tests were made with non-linear and linear regression models that would best reflect the relationship identified (Tiran, Lakner and Drobne, 2019). In the process of searching for the shape and parameters of the distance decay function, a linear regression model was used, and for this purpose the Statgraphics tool was used.…”

Influence of method selection on the calculation of public passenger transport stops accessibility

“…Te lahko razdelimo na dve skupini glede na to, na kakšen način so merili razdaljo. Raziskave, ki upoštevajo zračno razdaljo (Gabrovec s sodelavci 2019;Gabrovec in Bole 2006;Gabrovec in Razpotnik Visković 2018) so izdelane za večje regije ali pa za celotno Slovenijo, med tem ko so raziskave, ki upoštevajo razdaljo po omrežju, v večini primerov omejene na modeliranje dostopnosti na manjših območjih (Paliska, Drobne in Fabjan 2004;Kozina 2010;Tiran, Mladenovič in Koblar 2014;2015;Tiran, Lakner in Drobne 2019). Ključno težavo za izdelavo analiz z upoštevanjem razdalje po omrežju predstavlja razpoložljivost ustreznih prostorskih podatkov.…”

The Transport Service of Small Towns

“…The routing of lines and the time position of individual connections can then reflect requirements of the residents with a higher share in the given urban part. A detailed study of the access by foot, including the quality of pavement surface, to the UPT stops was conducted in Ljubljana, Slovenia [16]. Modelling of the UPT stops accessibility in smaller towns is in the centre of interest of Lamotte, O. et al [17].…”