Walkability 101: A Multi-Method Assessment of the Walkability at a University Campus

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate objective and perceived campus walkability as an environmental support for physical activity within a large Southeastern university. Ten university routes were evaluated twice for 24 key walkability characteristics. Eighty-three campus member surveys (62 students, 21 faculty/staff) were administered and assessed campus members’ familiarity with walkability, attitudes about walking as a form of physical activity, and perceptions of whether specific elements of the campus layout encouraged physical activity. At least 90% of routes had sidewalks, curb cuts, and crosswalks. Likewise, over 85% of participants perceived the campus layout to encourage physical activity. Faculty/staff members were more familiar with the term walkability and considered walking as a form of physical activity than students ( p < .05). Both campus members’ perceptions and environmental audits identified strengths and weaknesses for diverse walkability attributes. Results will be used to improve campus infrastructure and promote increased walking and physical activity at the university.

Assessing the Rationality and Walkability of Campus Layouts

“…Like other neighborhood Walk Score studies, this tool can also be used to investigate the association of campus Walk Score and a series of outcomes, such as students' walking behavior, physical activity, travel mode, housing options, college life satisfaction, academic performance, social capital, etc. [56,58,59,[67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74]78]. Meanwhile, researchers can use this tool to conduct quantitative research into the walkability of other campuses in different regions and with different scales.…”

“…The research on the walkability of campuses can also be divided into two major directions. The first direction looks at the specific built environment of the campus, as scholars apply and optimize the existing methods of measuring the walkability of cities, communities or neighborhoods, and workplaces to present a new way to measure campus walkability [56,57]. Xiangyu Li et al put forward a subjective and objective method, comprehensively evaluating the walkability and bike-ability of University of North Texas campus streets [57].…”

“…Xiangyu Li et al put forward a subjective and objective method, comprehensively evaluating the walkability and bike-ability of University of North Texas campus streets [57]. Using the subjective and objective method as well, King et al pursued another approach, combining environmental characteristics, campus members' perceptions of walkability, and other characteristics related to physical activity to measure the campus walkability [56].…”

“…One research study found that students living in residential areas with dense service facilities and good walkability prefer to walk or ride to the campus [63]. Likewise, there are also significant differences in the research objectives of the studies of campus walkability, including the evaluation of a single campus, the comparisons between two or more campuses, and the on-campus and off-campus built environment of the same campus [21,56,59].…”

Association between Campus Walkability and Affective Walking Experience, and the Mediating Role of Walking Attitude

“…Particularly, walkability is the quality of a neighborhood that supports and encourages people to walk to their destinations in a safe, convenient, and timely fashion [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]. Walkability thus is often assessed with environmental criteria such as street design, destination accessibility, and safety [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. A walkable neighborhood environment promotes physical activities that boost social cohesion and economic prosperity through energy savings, cost reductions, and health benefits [ 12 , 13 ].…”