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Pedestrian well-being reflects emotional experience during walking. Analyzing which built environment factors influence pedestrian wellbeing not only helps to improve residents' physical and mental health but also encourages more walking. Based on the data obtained via a questionnaire survey in Harbin, China, a gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model is developed to analyze how the perception of the built environment influences pedestrian well-being and to explain the differences across types of neighborhoods (old, new, and mixed). The results show that pedestrian well-being is most influenced by the diversity of daily service facilities, followed by the number of commercial facilities along a street, the accessibility of daily service facilities, and green spaces. Moreover, pedestrian well-being is also influenced by the type of neighborhoods. In new neighborhoods, it is dominated by the accessibility of public transport stations, while in old and mixed neighborhoods, pedestrian well-being is primarily determined by the accessibility of green spaces and the number of green spaces, respectively. Depending on the characteristics of the built environment, different intervention measures are proposed to improve pedestrian well-being and promote walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • This study integrates impact asymmetry analysis and gradient boosting decision trees. • It compares the correlates of walkability in gated and open communities. • The key correlates differ between the two types of communities. • The correlates have non-linear effects on pedestrian satisfaction. Abstract This study compares satisfaction with walkability of residents in gated and open communities in Harbin, China. The results of gradient boosting decision trees show that neighborhood attributes associated with satisfaction with walkability differ between gated and open communities. Neighborhood leisure activities, space, and street furniture are the most influential attributes for walkability in gated communities. Sidewalk quality, neighborhood safety, and leisure activities are important for open communities. Using impact-asymmetry analysis, this study illustrates the nonlinear effects of neighborhood attributes on pedestrian satisfaction and classifies these attributes into frustrators, dissatisfiers, hybrids, satisfiers and delighters. By integrating attribute classification and their performance, we found that social interaction is an improvement priority for gated communities and that neighborhood space and street furniture could be enhanced given resource availability. For open communities, we recommend that planners improve outdoor facilities, canopy and shelter, and open space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a national program, Chinese governments are making substantial investment on old neighborhood renovation to improve resident well-being. Understanding critical components of resident satisfaction with old neighborhoods is key to the success of this program. Drawing on the real experience of old neighborhood residents in Harbin, we applied the ground theory method to extract an extensive list of neighborhood attributes that potentially form neighborhood satisfaction. We then employed factor analysis and impact asymmetry analysis to identify the factor structure of neighborhood satisfaction. The results showed that most neighborhood factors have non-linear associations with old neighborhood satisfaction, challenging the linear assumption commonly hypothesized in the literature. Furthermore, housing and utility infrastructure, activity space, property management, neighborhood facilities, and the social environment are significant contributors to neighborhood satisfaction. The first three factors cause substantial dissatisfaction and should be prioritized for improvement to increase overall resident satisfaction with old neighborhoods. • We integrated the grounded theory approach and impact asymmetry analysis. • We obtained a holistic list of potential contributors to neighborhood satisfaction. • Neighborhood attributes have non-linear associations with neighborhood satisfaction. • Housing and utility infrastructure, activity space, property management are critical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]