The implication of street network design for walkability: A review

Abstract

A street network-friendly design allows walkability among people and is proven beneficial to the environment, community health, and economy of the city. Walkability in a street network increases potential trips by pedestrians through sidewalks and linked streets to create shorter travel distances. Street designs for pedestrian walkways are commonly ignored, with more focus on vehicular access, consequently leading to a lack of effort in improving the street network designs linked to various destinations. Accordingly, this paper reviews the street network designs affecting walkability from the perspective of the urban community. A systematic literature review method was employed to identify and analyse the articles published in the Sciencedirect.com database between 2004 and 2020 using two keywords: street network design and walkable city. The main finding suggested that street networks were associated with proper street designs. Therefore, a walkable city developed from a thriving street network design improved local physical activities and healthy communities.

Visual perception factors on the soundscape of urban shopping streets: Environmental factors

“…Furthermore, visual elements improve the benefit of soundscape-context affection, whether through visual or auditory stimuli [27]. The city and built environment indicator presented the highest result of 20 articles, which suggested that built environment attributes influenced urban development and provided opportunities for commercial activities in livening the place [28].…”

Urban Street Concept Based on The Quran Perspective: The Most Comprehensive Solution to Street Problems

“…Those features are shown in table 3 as the walkable street indicators. It has 13 indicators to make pedestrians love to walk in their city, such as providing a lively walking environment [45], creating social interaction [46], and the presence of public transport [47]. Most of the indicators are put on the physical and social aspects because they directly impact the pedestrians.…”

“…Creating a sustainable space [46] WS2 Providing parking areas [47] Providing a complete street WS3 Cultural elements (high presence of cultural elements or convivial points) [47] The presence of aesthetical elements [47] Environments have full pedestrian facilities [45] Providing many aesthetically pleasing elements [45] Street improvements led to an increase in pedestrian volume and influenced walking experiences [46] Improving pedestrian facilities resulted in improved neighbourhood quality [46] Creating broad green areas with shaded pathways, underground parking, and bicycle lanes [46] A new complete street renovation can attract people's interest [46] Enhancement of current infrastructure for pedestrians [46] The street environment needs to be anthropometrically and ergonomically sensitive [49] Satisfying the individual's basic day-to-day needs by providing many facilities [4] Attractive, lively, and friendly environments [45] Built environment factors influenced decisions to walk for short trips [46] Providing an exercise-inducing environment with many supported features [45] Providing a sensory experience of the street that derives pleasure [50]…”

“…Ease of access to the destination [47] Providing high connectivity and easy access to streets WS4 Street connectivity (high number of connections to other links) [47] High continuity pathways [47] High directness path [47] Increasing path performance [47] Access to the destination with proper space to walk [4] Allowing people to get from one place to another without significant impediments [45] Providing short distances to destinations for those who are walking for utility [45] Well-connected street [46] Providing sustainable transportation options [45] Providing sustainable public transport options WS5 Presence of public transport [47] Street vitality (the liveliness of a street) [47] WS6…”

“…Safety from crime and traffic injuries on the street [4] Ensuring people's safety [46] Safe from any harm [45] Street design elements could reduce pedestrian collisions [46] Creating social interaction [46] WS9 Built environment attributes can highly increase community health [46] WS10…”