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The power of walkability: a study on the relationship between urban design and pedestrian walking time
V Leblanc1, D Brousmiche1, A Hubert1
1Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Facteurs de vulnérabilité des maladies chroniques liées au vieillissement, F-59000, Lille, France.
Background And Aim:
Walkability, defined as the ease of walking and the diversity of accessible destinations, is a key factor in urban planning that may encourage physical activity. This spatial epidemiological study aims to develop a transparent and reproducible walkability score based on spatial indicators, and to examine its association with pedestrian travel behaviors in a European metropolis.
Methods:
Conducted in Lille, France, this cross-sectional study combined data from a travel survey with open-access environmental datasets. Twelve variables were identified across three domains-businesses, public transportation, and amenities/natural spaces. For each variable, proximity and diversity were assessed using a spatial mesh-based approach. Results were aggregated to neighborhood units, and the associations between the walkability score, its individual components, and total walking time on the survey day were examined using a Tobit regression model.
Results:
The walkability score showed spatial variability, with the highest values concentrated in the city center. Residents living in neighborhoods within the highest walkability quartile exhibited a median of 21.71 additional minutes of walking per day (95% CI: 14.65-28.76) compared with those in the lowest quartile. They were also 2.90 times more likely (adjusted OR: 2.90; 95% CI: 2.04-4.12) to make at least one walking trip during the day. Analyses of individual indicators showed positive associations for businesses, supermarkets, bakeries, benches, primary schools, bus stops and park entrances, whereas permeability was negatively associated with walking time, corresponding to a decrease of 6.55 min/day (95% CI: -8.21 to -4.89) per interquartile range.
Discussion:
This study provides a detailed, reproducible methodology for measuring walkability and is consistent with an association between neighborhood walkability and pedestrian travel. It highlights the importance of diverse businesses and services for walking behavior.