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AbstractThis article is situated at the intersection of mobility studies, sound studies, and critical disability studies. It centers on the sonic qualities of electric mobility which have changed the urban sound environment. The analysis highlights how associations of the blind have advocated against silent cars. The debate around sound-producing cars is described with regard to three different but related areas. First, I consider how traffic noise is framed as a health hazard, whereas electric vehicles (EVs) incorporate a possible solution to the current noise levels in urban environments despite posing a threat to pedestrian safety. While questioning the positive characteristics ascribed to EVs, I then turn to traffic noise as a productive factor for blind as well as sighted pedestrians’ mobility. This leads me to consider the recently established regulation for Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) in EVs and scrutinize the sonic dimension of EVs. Thirdly, synthetic car noise will be analyzed as an innovative component of contemporary sound design and marketing strategies. Consequently, unraveling the co-constitution of blind walking, sonic productions, and electric mobility allows me to emphasize how a just future politics of (auto)mobility necessarily has to consider the senses of pedestrians in their heterogeneous variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermediate cities, characterized by their shorter distances, could be projected as favorable spaces for adopting active means of mobility such as walking. However, the trend seems to be moving in another direction. The most recent mobility surveys show a decrease in people going for walks and an increase in car use in several intermediate Chilean cities. This phenomenon raises questions about the experiences of those who walk in intermediate cities to understand why these cities could be evaluated as walkable, as walking is no longer a daily mobility option for most people. This article addresses this question based on ethnographic research conducted between 2021 and 2022 in the city of Osorno, in the Los Lagos region, where pedestrian experiences of twenty inhabitants were analyzed. A relevant finding is the frequent disruptions in the rhythms and sense of continuity that participants experience in their trips and their impact on the daily walk. Based on this observation, the proposal is made to incorporate the notion of rhythm into the debate on the walkability of intermediate cities as a valuable element that allows focusing on the experiences that people have while walking and to make progress in the understanding of what makes a city walkable, and what makes its inhabitants want to walk it. In this way, this article contributes to knowledge of pedestrian experiences in non-metropolitan contexts, often ignored in urban walking studies, enriching our understanding of everyday mobility in intermediate cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing availability of ubiquitous sensor data on the built environment holds great potential for a new generation of travel and mobility research. Bluetooth technology, for example, is already vastly used in vehicular transportation management solutions and services. Current studies discuss the potential of this emerging technology for pedestrian mobility research, but it has yet to be examined in a large urban setting. One of the main problems is detecting pedestrians from Bluetooth records since their behavior and movement patterns share similarities with other urban transportation modes. This study aims to accurately detect pedestrians using a network of 65 Bluetooth detectors located in Tel-Aviv, Israel, which record on average over 60,000 unique daily Bluetooth Media-Access-Control addresses. We propose a detection methodology that includes system calibration, effective travel time calculation, and classification by velocity that takes into consideration the probability of vehicular traffic jams. An evaluation of the proposed methodology presents a promising pedestrian detection accuracy rate of 89%. We showcase the results of pedestrian traffic analysis, together with a discussion on the data analysis challenges and limitations. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to analyze pedestrian records detection from a Bluetooth network employed in a dynamic urban environment setting.

The increasing availability of ubiquitous sensor data on the built environment holds great potential for a new generation of travel and mobility research. Bluetooth technology, for example, is already vastly used in vehicular transportation management solutions and services. Current studies discuss the potential of this emerging technology for pedestrian mobility research, but it has yet to be examined in a large urban setting. One of the main problems is detecting pedestrians from Bluetooth records since their behavior and movement patterns share similarities with other urban transportation modes. This study aims to accurately detect pedestrians using a network of 65 Bluetooth detectors located in Tel-Aviv, Israel, which record on average over 60,000 unique daily Bluetooth Media-Access-Control addresses. We propose a detection methodology that includes system calibration, effective travel time calculation, and classification by velocity that takes into consideration the probability of vehicular traffic jams. An evaluation of the proposed methodology presents a promising pedestrian detection accuracy rate of 89%. We showcase the results of pedestrian traffic analysis, together with a discussion on the data analysis challenges and limitations. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to analyze pedestrian records detection from a Bluetooth network employed in a dynamic urban environment setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving urban mobility, especially pedestrian mobility, is a current challenge in virtually every city worldwide. To calculate the least-cost paths and safer, more efficient routes, it is necessary to understand the geometry of streets and their various elements accurately. In this study, we propose a semi-automatic methodology to assess the capacity of urban spaces to enable adequate pedestrian mobility. We employ various data sources, but primarily point clouds obtained through a mobile laser scanner (MLS), which provide a wealth of highly detailed information about the geometry of street elements. Our method allows us to characterize preferred pedestrian-traffic zones by segmenting crosswalks, delineating sidewalks, and identifying obstacles and impediments to walking in urban routes. Subsequently, we generate different displacement cost surfaces and identify the least-cost origin–destination paths. All these factors enable a detailed pedestrian mobility analysis, yielding results on a raster with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 10 cm/pix. The method is validated through its application in a case study analyzing pedestrian mobility around an educational center in a purely urban area of A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). The segmentation model successfully identified all pedestrian crossings in the study area without false positives. Additionally, obstacle segmentation effectively identified urban elements and parked vehicles, providing crucial information to generate precise friction surfaces reflecting real environmental conditions. Furthermore, the generation of cumulative displacement cost surfaces allowed for identifying optimal routes for pedestrian movement, considering the presence of obstacles and the availability of traversable spaces. These surfaces provided a detailed representation of pedestrian mobility, highlighting significant variations in travel times, especially in areas with high obstacle density, where differences of up to 15% were observed. These results underscore the importance of considering obstacles’ existence and location when planning pedestrian routes, which can significantly influence travel times and route selection. We consider the capability to generate accurate cumulative cost surfaces to be a significant advantage, as it enables urban planners and local authorities to make informed decisions regarding the improvement of pedestrian infrastructure.

The increases in both the elderly population and urbanization present new problems for planning new cities and managing old cities. To solve this challenge, innovative ideas/proposals that encourage walkability and reduce fossil energy motor transport are needed, in line with the actions advocated by Sustainable Development Goal #11 (SDG11), Sustainable Cities and Communities. Opening passages that cross blocks, creating connections between the streets, is the proposal discussed in this paper, as seen in cities like Paris, Prague, Milan, and Juíz de Fora, which have passages in their urban fabric. These can be implemented in a building's rehabilitation or when a new building replaces it. New architectural project designs should have several characteristics that promote walkability in the city, including passages and galleries. Although previous research has obtained promising results, extending the research to different urban fabrics and block sizes is needed. Using space syntax and data analysis, we simulated and quantitatively assessed the walkability of three neighborhoods in Lisbon, Portugal. The comparison of all simulations and the discussion of the results show that the passages improve walkability. It is also noticeable that there is higher walkability in orthogonal urban fabrics than in non-orthogonal fabrics. The results for block size are inconclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human impression plays a crucial role in effectively designing infrastructures that support active mobility such as walking and cycling. By involving users early in the design process, valuable insights can be gathered before physical environments are constructed. This proactive approach enhances the attractiveness and safety of designed spaces for users. This study conducts an experiment comparing real street observations with immersive virtual reality (VR) visits to evaluate user perceptions and assess the quality of public spaces. For this experiment, a high-resolution 3D city model of a large-scale neighborhood was created, utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) data. The model incorporated dynamic elements representing various urban environments: a public area with a tramway station, a commercial street with a road, and a residential playground with green spaces. Participants were presented with identical views of existing urban scenes, both in reality and through reconstructed 3D scenes using a Head-Mounted Display (HMD). They were asked questions related to the quality of the streetscape, its walkability, and cyclability. From the questionnaire, algorithms for assessing public spaces were computed, namely Sustainable Mobility Indicators (SUMI) and Pedestrian Level of Service (PLOS). The study quantifies the relevance of these indicators in a VR setup and correlates them with critical factors influencing the experience of using and spending time on a street. This research contributes to understanding the suitability of these algorithms in a VR environment for predicting the quality of future spaces before occupancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the relationship between urban planning and mobility management, TeMA has gradually expanded the view of the covered topics, always remaining in the groove of rigorous scientific in-depth analysis. This section of the Journal, Review Notes, is the expression of continuously updating emerging topics concerning relationships between urban planning, mobility and environment, through a collection of short scientific papers written by young researchers. The Review Notes are made of four parts. Each section examines a specific aspect of the broader information storage within the main interests of TeMA Journal. In particular, the Urban planning literature review section presents recent books and journals on selected topics and issues within the global scientific panorama. The contribution discusses, with interesting scientific works, the importance of urban design for enhancing walkability in urban spaces. Pedestrian mobility can guide the transition to a more sustainable, safe and inclusive urban mobility future. The third contribution of the Review Notes for TeMA vo. 16 presents three significant scientific books and journal that propose actions and strategies to create urban spaces and networks that promote active mobility, improve the safety, health and quality of urban environments increasingly threatened by unsustainable mobility choices.

Starting from the relationship between urban planning and mobility management, TeMA has gradually expanded the view of the covered topics, always remaining in the groove of rigorous scientific in-depth analysis. This section of the Journal, Review Notes, is the expression of continuously updating emerging topics concerning relationships between urban planning, mobility and environment, through a collection of short scientific papers written by young researchers. The Review Notes are made of four parts. Each section examines a specific aspect of the broader information storage within the main interests of TeMA Journal. In particular, the Urban planning literature review section presents recent books and journals on selected topics and issues within the global scientific panorama. The contribution discusses, with interesting scientific works, the importance of urban design for enhancing walkability in urban spaces. Pedestrian mobility can guide the transition to a more sustainable, safe and inclusive urban mobility future. The third contribution of the Review Notes for TeMA vo. 16 presents three significant scientific books and journal that propose actions and strategies to create urban spaces and networks that promote active mobility, improve the safety, health and quality of urban environments increasingly threatened by unsustainable mobility choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increases in both the elderly population and urbanization present new problems for planning new cities and managing old cities. To solve this challenge, innovative ideas/proposals that encourage walkability and reduce fossil energy motor transport are needed, in line with the actions advocated by Sustainable Development Goal #11 (SDG11), Sustainable Cities and Communities. Opening passages that cross blocks, creating connections between the streets, is the proposal discussed in this paper, as seen in cities like Paris, Prague, Milan, and Juíz de Fora, which have passages in their urban fabric. These can be implemented in a building’s rehabilitation or when a new building replaces it. New architectural project designs should have several characteristics that promote walkability in the city, including passages and galleries. Although previous research has obtained promising results, extending the research to different urban fabrics and block sizes is needed. Using space syntax and data analysis, we simulated and quantitatively assessed the walkability of three neighborhoods in Lisbon, Portugal. The comparison of all simulations and the discussion of the results show that the passages improve walkability. It is also noticeable that there is higher walkability in orthogonal urban fabrics than in non-orthogonal fabrics. The results for block size are inconclusive.

The design characteristics of urban parks' pathways are important in facilitating leisure walking and maintaining the minimum rate of physical activity, thus improving public health. This study examined and explored the relationships between design characteristics as well as certain visual qualities of Cautin Park, the biggest urban park in the Araucanian Region of Chile, and the tendency for walking as well as walking behavior. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to examine the objectives. Several design attributes were found to be related to the tendency for walking and the walking behavior in this urban park, including greater pathway width, more vegetation, tranquility along the pathways, and more comfortable pathway environments for pets. Additionally, these correlations were assessed based on gender and age, and it was found that adolescents showed the greatest difference from other groups. For instance, adolescents walk significantly more along pathways with more connectivity to activity zones. Among the visual qualities, only legibility shows a significant correlation with the number of all types of pedestrians, as well as subgroups of adolescents, adult men, and adult women. These results were reviewed, and their implications were discussed. Urban planners and designers could apply these findings when designing future urban parks in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corona Virus (COVID-19) is forcing us to re-examine our current travel patterns in order to adapt to social distancing. For this purpose, simulation of pedestrian mobility remains relevant and can facilitate the design of buildings and urban spaces in this newly emerging context. Under COVID-19, a university campus in Algeria has been selected to demonstrate digital simulation for the study of pedestrian mobility. Infraworks software founded on multi-agent simulation is used. Based on the establishment and comparison of various scenarios, we are able to confirm the effects of the anti-pandemic measures on pedestrian behavior in the studied area, such as social distance and the decline in student population, and the implementation of new traffic plans to enhance working conditions on the university campus. The results show that this tool enables the readjustment of space and people's behavior so that the university activities carry on with a minimum health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pedestrian mobility remains neglected in MaaS solutions, yet it has the potential to become a tool for promoting public policies and more sustainable lifestyles away from excessive private car use. This research identifies the potential for sustainable value creation and the transversal implications for policymakers and other MaaS stakeholders of overlooking walking in innovations like MaaS. To do so, we explore how walking is currently integrated into four MaaS solutions in the Paris region. Our main findings show heterogeneity in the hierarchy given to walking in the user interfaces and the determinant roles of governance and policy in supporting the prioritization of pedestrian mobility in MaaS.

As an active mode of transportation, walking has proven to be an effective strategy to tackle environmental problems while improving health. The current paper highlights the main factors that either encourage or deter pedestrians in their daily trips by analyzing the arisen discussions in three different Focus Groups (FGs), which were later synthesized into factors ranking according to their positive or negative outcomes. The results help identify these factors and show how a variety of target groups (seniors, young adults, middle-aged adults, divided by male and female perspective) perceive the city in different ways: younger adults prioritize accessibility and quality of the infrastructure, females highlighted the insecurity suffered during nighttime trips, and older adults emphasized the relevance of street maintenance. Finally, the benefits of walking on physical and mental health are viewed positively amongst all target groups, considering walking as a means to help people reduce stress.

In the past decades, Belgrade experienced a significant transformation of its downtown area also with regards to an increasing number of public spaces turned into pedestrian zones, primarily by closing roads for automotive transport, and establishing new pedestrian zones. This trend of pedestrianization of urban cores in Europe (initiated in the mid-20th century), found its strongest expression in Belgrade in the eighties with the complete transformation of Knez Mihailova street and its paving, and later with the expansion of the pedestrian zone to the adjoining streets. With the beginning of the 21st century, a special rise of a commercialized type of “street life” occurred - an increasing number of outdoor restaurant facilities were established. In the last twenty years, the services sector has become one of the most important in the city’s economy, and the tourism and hospitality industry employs a significant number of people; thus, the urban public space is increasingly adapting to the needs of consumers of such services, residents and guests alike. The visible expansion of restaurant facilities on public pedestrian areas in Belgrade raises questions about priorities in the use of public space. This paper will examine questions of space use, pedestrian mobility, and hospitality industries.

Pedestrian interventions for healthier and more inclusive streetscapes can be powerful mechanisms to increase the safety and comfort of walking in African cities. This article proposes a multiscale walkability analysis approach to identify both suitable streets for pedestrian travel and problematic areas requiring small-scale improvements (e.g., pavement repairs, building maintenance, streetlights, and public seating). We applied a GIS-based framework to the central urban area of Cape Town, South Africa, which presents complex social and environmental challenges. For each street-and-crossing segment, a virtual pedestrian streetscape audit tool was used to collect micro- and mesoscale environmental indicators and assess the quality of public space. This composite street-level assessment tool was weighted with a space syntax analysis indicator (i.e., spatial integration) to detect the network’s most interconnected and high-priority pathways. The Jenks natural breaks classification algorithm was used to classify scores for each segment, which ultimately found that the highest-priority streets for redevelopment are clustered in Bo-Kaap, a relatively disadvantaged, multicultural, and hilly district on Cape Town’s west side. Policy recommendations are evaluated to increase the quality of the urban environment and the city’s overall attractiveness to pedestrians. The proposed methodology facilitates more effective place management and classifies the city’s needs in improvements, minimizing both time and budget costs.

This work focuses on the representations of local space by inhabitants of a Mexico City's popular outskirt from their practices of pedestrian mobility. It is based on the observation of five mental mapping workshops, oriented on pedestrian mobility's conditions, in which inhabitants of the "pueblo originario" of the San Gregorio Atlapulco, located in the southern fringe of Mexico City's urban area, participated. The inhabitants report the impossibility of walking freely and decently in San Gregorio, which gives rise to a feeling of deterritorialization. The analysis of the workshops uses pedestrian mobility as an approach to understand the modes of "appropriation of space", starting from the idea that when the potential for space appropriation is undermined, the inhabitants highlight certain elements of a "sense of place" which they wish to preserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CienciAmérica is the property of Revista Cienciamerica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pedestrian mobility remains neglected in MaaS solutions, yet it has the potential to become a tool for promoting public policies and more sustainable lifestyles away from excessive private car use. This research identifies the potential for sustainable value creation and the transversal implications for policymakers and other MaaS stakeholders of overlooking walking in innovations like MaaS. To do so, we explore how walking is currently integrated into four MaaS solutions in the Paris region. Our main findings show heterogeneity in the hierarchy given to walking in the user interfaces and the determinant roles of governance and policy in supporting the prioritization of pedestrian mobility in MaaS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for safe pedestrian movement implies subtracting and modifying space dedicated to vehicles, especially in urban areas. Traffic control measures aim to reduce or modify the width of the carriageway and force the correct use of the space by pedestrians through two approaches: the former is hard and includes physical barriers and the latter is soft and induces psychological fashion effects on the drivers. This paper presents vertical and horizontal devices integrated by landscaping, planting, or other similar works to slow motor vehicle speed, narrow traffic lanes, and/or create smaller distances for pedestrian crossings. Mobility and boundary issues are considered to discuss their warrants and potential impacts. Indeed, the effects of speed or volume treatments should be investigated through a comprehensive multicriteria analysis without overlooking pedestrian level of service, access and connectivity to residents and emergency vehicles, drainage and snow issues, loss of on-street parking lots, and environmental goals in terms of noise and emissions to air reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Institute of Ethnography of the Serbian Academy of Sciences & Arts / Glasnik Etnografskog Instituta SANU is the property of Institute of Ethnography, SASA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human impression plays a crucial role in effectively designing infrastructures that support active mobility such as walking and cycling. By involving users early in the design process, valuable insights can be gathered before physical environments are constructed. This proactive approach enhances the attractiveness and safety of designed spaces for users. This study conducts an experiment comparing real street observations with immersive virtual reality (VR) visits to evaluate user perceptions and assess the quality of public spaces. For this experiment, a high-resolution 3D city model of a large-scale neighborhood was created, utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) data. The model incorporated dynamic elements representing various urban environments: a public area with a tramway station, a commercial street with a road, and a residential playground with green spaces. Participants were presented with identical views of existing urban scenes, both in reality and through reconstructed 3D scenes using a Head-Mounted Display (HMD). They were asked questions related to the quality of the streetscape, its walkability, and cyclability. From the questionnaire, algorithms for assessing public spaces were computed, namely Sustainable Mobility Indicators (SUMI) and Pedestrian Level of Service (PLOS). The study quantifies the relevance of these indicators in a VR setup and correlates them with critical factors influencing the experience of using and spending time on a street. This research contributes to understanding the suitability of these algorithms in a VR environment for predicting the quality of future spaces before occupancy.

As an active mode of transportation, walking has proven to be an effective strategy to tackle environmental problems while improving health. The current paper highlights the main factors that either encourage or deter pedestrians in their daily trips by analyzing the arisen discussions in three different Focus Groups (FGs), which were later synthesized into factors ranking according to their positive or negative outcomes. The results help identify these factors and show how a variety of target groups (seniors, young adults, middle-aged adults, divided by male and female perspective) perceive the city in different ways: younger adults prioritize accessibility and quality of the infrastructure, females highlighted the insecurity suffered during nighttime trips, and older adults emphasized the relevance of street maintenance. Finally, the benefits of walking on physical and mental health are viewed positively amongst all target groups, considering walking as a means to help people reduce stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Promoting pedestrian mobility represents a strategy for achieving a sustainable transportation system, where problems such as traffic congestion, air and noise pollution are minimized. For this aim, it becomes fundamental to identify pedestrian environments that can facilitate and encourage making trips by walking. The objective of this paper is to provide a practical methodology that can assist the analyst in identifying the best alternative among some pedestrian paths with different characteristics. (2) Methods: To this aim, subjective, objective and mixed indicators were proposed to measure the performance criteria adopted for evaluating the alternatives. A multi-criteria analysis was applied as a tool of evaluation. (3) Results: The findings of the work suggest that pedestrians seem to appreciate the tree-lined paths and prefer to keep bike lines separated from pedestrian paths. Number of crosswalks is relevant in the evaluation of pedestrian paths, especially when there are shops along the path. Aspects related to the conditions of the pavement and to comfort and environment are less relevant. (4) Conclusions: The use of both subjective and objective indicators allows consideration of some different aspects and discovery of more interesting findings. Management strategies could be oriented to make the paths more delightful and serviceable for the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, public policies in Brazil and many developing countries have prioritized individual motorized modes of transport. The urban space of Brazilian cities has been repeatedly remodeled, often to meet the demands of vehicle flow, to the detriment of spaces for pedestrian use. Part of the transport infrastructure, particularly the highways, are obstacles to the population's mobility, constituting the barrier effect and expanding the physical separation of the communities that reside or transit between the adjacent neighborhoods. Based on the proposed mobility and accessibility indicators extracted from the Origin and Destination Survey databases, this article aims to analyze pedestrian mobility and access to cross the Celso Mello Azevedo Ring Road, located in Belo Horizonte/Brazil. The results indicate that, over the period analyzed, the flows of foot crossings were significantly reduced, even in areas where population growth was recorded. The evidence also shows the prevalence of crossings by motorized modes, whose mobility and access are characterized by a tangible inequality in spatial distribution, linked to the occupation pattern of the surroundings, one consequence of which is the expressive volume of accidents involving pedestrians on the highway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically examines the adequacy of sidewalk widths in Auckland’s Central Business District in light of increasing active mobility and sustainable urban planning trends. Recognising the need to retrofit street spaces to prioritise pedestrians, we aim to determine whether current sidewalk dimensions meet the diverse requirements of users. We analysed average sidewalk widths and developed four mobility metrics – inflow and outflow travel distance, and density of visitors and locals – using a large-scale mobile location dataset comprising 113 million data points from 1.4 million users. These metrics, reflecting urban vibrancy and sidewalk use, were correlated with sidewalk widths to assess their adequacy. Furthermore, we applied cluster analysis to these mobility metrics, along with the diversity of Points of Interest, to categorise sidewalk segments, uncovering intricate usage patterns. Our findings indicate that sidewalks typically range from 2 to 5 m, catering to varied urban needs. Notably, we observed no direct correlation between sidewalk width and mobility patterns, but significant differences in inflow and outflow travel distances were evident, especially between key urban hubs and quiet residential neighbourhoods. Moreover, we identified seven distinct sidewalk categories, each reflecting unique qualities, suggesting that uniform widths do not define sidewalk utility or character. This highlights the need to rethink current capacity-focused sidewalk design, advocating for a nuanced approach that addresses the intricate demands of urban spaces. Our methodology offers flexibility and can be tailored to suit different urban contexts, providing a versatile tool for urban analysis and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedestrian travel represents one of the most complex forms of mobility owing to the numerous parameters that influence its analysis and the difficulty of acquiring accurate travel information. In addition, the vulnerability of its protagonists, especially in urban environments, in coexistence with other types of transport, makes its study interesting. This paper proposes a web tool for use in geolocated surveys that allows the acquisition of georeferenced thematic information of interest for mobility studies. The analysis of different school routes from students' homes to their respective schools has been proposed as a case study. This work covered a sample of 1883 students from 26 schools in Galicia (Spain), where population dispersion generates a particular type of mobility. We obtained relevant mobility data, such as the routes most traveled by students in their daily commute to school, the most efficient routes, the most used means of transport, or the exact location of various elements that hinder and dangerously affect students traveling these routes, such as sidewalks or crosswalks in poor condition, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedestrian interventions for healthier and more inclusive streetscapes can be powerful mechanisms to increase the safety and comfort of walking in African cities. This article proposes a multiscale walkability analysis approach to identify both suitable streets for pedestrian travel and problematic areas requiring small-scale improvements (e.g., pavement repairs, building maintenance, streetlights, and public seating). We applied a GIS-based framework to the central urban area of Cape Town, South Africa, which presents complex social and environmental challenges. For each street-and-crossing segment, a virtual pedestrian streetscape audit tool was used to collect micro- and mesoscale environmental indicators and assess the quality of public space. This composite street-level assessment tool was weighted with a space syntax analysis indicator (i.e., spatial integration) to detect the network’s most interconnected and high-priority pathways. The Jenks natural breaks classification algorithm was used to classify scores for each segment, which ultimately found that the highest-priority streets for redevelopment are clustered in Bo-Kaap, a relatively disadvantaged, multicultural, and hilly district on Cape Town’s west side. Policy recommendations are evaluated to increase the quality of the urban environment and the city’s overall attractiveness to pedestrians. The proposed methodology facilitates more effective place management and classifies the city’s needs in improvements, minimizing both time and budget costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design characteristics of urban parks’ pathways are important in facilitating leisure walking and maintaining the minimum rate of physical activity, thus improving public health. This study examined and explored the relationships between design characteristics as well as certain visual qualities of Cautin Park, the biggest urban park in the Araucanian Region of Chile, and the tendency for walking as well as walking behavior. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to examine the objectives. Several design attributes were found to be related to the tendency for walking and the walking behavior in this urban park, including greater pathway width, more vegetation, tranquility along the pathways, and more comfortable pathway environments for pets. Additionally, these correlations were assessed based on gender and age, and it was found that adolescents showed the greatest difference from other groups. For instance, adolescents walk significantly more along pathways with more connectivity to activity zones. Among the visual qualities, only legibility shows a significant correlation with the number of all types of pedestrians, as well as subgroups of adolescents, adult men, and adult women. These results were reviewed, and their implications were discussed. Urban planners and designers could apply these findings when designing future urban parks in this context.

This study assessed the applicability of geolocation data provided by public Wi-Fi infrastructures as information sources that can contribute to urban planning and management. We focused particularly on modeling and monitoring real-time mobility and congestion using geolocation capabilities of Wi-Fi public networks in Smart cities. The proposed methodology combines a detailed geographic analysis of the space with high-frequency indicators generated from network data. This study emphasizes the importance of Wi-Fi infrastructures as noninvasive monitoring systems, and describes how network data can be applied to generate useful indicators for urban planning and management. The methodology was empirically implemented in the city of Palma (Balearic Islands, Spain), where the social distance level was measured to identify conflicting areas. We demonstrate how the proposed solution can estimate pedestrians' density efficiently and precisely through high-frequency monitoring (5 min or less) and the construction of comprehensive indicators. In this context, we suggest several public policies that can be implemented by using this methodological approach to monitor dynamic patterns of pedestrian mobility, especially during health crises or during high tourist seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By 2021, in Autlán, Jalisco, Mexico; the presence of motorized vehicles for private transport causes complications for the pedestrian, since some streets do not have the minimum urban infrastructure that provides security to its inhabitants. The objective of the study was to evaluate the streets Gerardo Vázquez, Víctor Manuel Pérez Sánchez and La Quebradilla with a useful tool of urban indicators for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of these roads. A matrix of alternative mobility indicators was prepared for the infrastructural and landscape evaluation, and for the proposal of solutions to the problem in which the pedestrian is prioritized. It is concluded that the results of the analysis of the object of study and the intervention proposal favor the locality. The information obtained serves as a watershed for the Honorable City Council in making decisions regarding the improvement of roads, for the benefit of pedestrians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities with identity issues, have required the discussion of the structure of cities, urban use and architectural diversity. Space Syntax as a morphologic method developed by Bill Hillier and his colleagues in the 1970’s to analyze urban and architectural scale studies in order to explain their syntactic relationships. Along with this method, "Wayfinding" method is also used to make a check in order to evaluate the relationship between mobility and land use together with spatial quality. In this study, analyzes were carried out using the space syntax and route finding methods in the Kadıköy region. The streets mostly used by pedestrians in Kadıköy are analyzed and the results for the spaces are discussed. Syntactic examinations of the morphological structure of Kadıköy, from the historical process were also analyzed and the continuity of the strong axes or changes have been discussed.As a result; It has been determined that the users of the urban space use the most preferred roads with the longest view, the safest, with the best spatial quality and the most integrated streets of the city.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rethinking lifestyle and quality of life through the appropriate use of public space is necessary. This study aims to verify the measures of social distancing in Chapinero Centro, which, according to the mobility survey 2019 of Bogota, has an average of 4,633 trips on foot between 10 and 20 minutes according to the travel patterns in the areas of transportation analysis studied. Despite having great social and economic dynamics, this area has small sidewalks that hinder compliance with social distancing, which is necessary to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, geographic analysis of this area was performed using data provided by the vulnerability map of the Coronavirus web in Colombia by the National Planning Department, the Institute for Health Technology Assessment, and the National Administrative Department of Statistics. This geographic analysis made it possible to calculate the variables of population indicator per block, maximum population per sidewalk, and the criterion of compliance with social distancing. When developing the vulnerability and social distancing maps, it became evident that 37% of the sidewalks do not comply with the 2 meters of social distancing between people, so we propose extending them to 3.5 meters and reducing this same value in the vehicular space to design an effective social distancing map. We concluded that the widening of the sidewalks allows flexible use of the streets oriented to a healthy distance, which could be complemented with an accessibility study and a study of vehicular traffic to measure the impact of this intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pedestrian travel represents one of the most complex forms of mobility owing to the numerous parameters that influence its analysis and the difficulty of acquiring accurate travel information. In addition, the vulnerability of its protagonists, especially in urban environments, in coexistence with other types of transport, makes its study interesting. This paper proposes a web tool for use in geolocated surveys that allows the acquisition of georeferenced thematic information of interest for mobility studies. The analysis of different school routes from students’ homes to their respective schools has been proposed as a case study. This work covered a sample of 1883 students from 26 schools in Galicia (Spain), where population dispersion generates a particular type of mobility. We obtained relevant mobility data, such as the routes most traveled by students in their daily commute to school, the most efficient routes, the most used means of transport, or the exact location of various elements that hinder and dangerously affect students traveling these routes, such as sidewalks or crosswalks in poor condition, among others.

City governments and planners alike commonly seek to increase pedestrian activity on city streets as part of broader sustainability, community building, and economic development strategies. Though walkability has received ample attention in planning literature, most planners still lack practical methods for predicting how development proposals could affect pedestrian activity on specific streets or public spaces at different times of the day. Cities typically require traffic impact assessments (TIAs) but not pedestrian impact assessments. In this study I present a methodology for estimating pedestrian trip generation and distribution between detailed origins and destinations in both existing and proposed built environments. Using the betweenness index from network analysis, I introduce a number of methodological improvements that allow the index to model pedestrian trips with parameters and constraints to account for pedestrian behavior in different settings. I demonstrate its application in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge (MA), where estimated foot traffic is compared during lunch and evening peak periods with observed pedestrian counts. The proposed approach can be particularly useful for TIAs, neighborhood plans, and large-scale development projects, where pedestrian flow estimates can be used to guide pedestrian infrastructure and safety improvements and public space investments or for locating pedestrian priority streets during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen El terremoto de abril de 2016 ocurrido en la costa ecuatoriana afectó a decenas de ciudades y sus resultados repercutieron de manera especial en algunos colectivos. Los servicios de salud se saturaron y, por diferentes motivos, quedaron inaccesibles para parte de la población. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la movilidad peatonal y el acceso de forma autónoma a los servicios de salud para personas mayores y con discapacidad en tres de las ciudades más afectadas de la provincia donde tuvo lugar el epicentro del terremoto: Manta, Pedernales y Portoviejo. La metodología incluye la revisión de literatura científica y normativas técnicas sobre la movilidad peatonal para personas mayores o con discapacidad y, sobre los aportes y parámetros tomados de la literatura, se realiza una fotointerpretación del medio físico en las situaciones antes del terremoto, misma que es comparada con la situación post-terremoto en base a la elaboración y recopilación de cartografía. Los resultados indican que las condiciones del territorio, antes y después del desastre, impedían el acceso de forma autónoma a los servicios de salud para las personas mayores con discapacidad. Abstract The earthquake of April 2016 that occurred on the Ecuadorian coast affected dozens of cities and its results had a special impact on some groups. Health services were saturated and for different reasons, they were inaccessible for part of the population. The objective of this paper is to analyze the forms of pedestrian mobility and autonomous access to health services for the elderly with disabilities after the earthquake in three of the most affected cities: Manta, Pedernales and Portoviejo. The methodology used includes a literature review of technical documents and standards about inclusive pedestrian mobility, and based on the parameters taken from these documents, an evaluation through photointerpretation of the physical environment conditions previous to the earthquake, is made. The results of this evaluation are compared with the post-disaster situation through the elaboration and collection of cartography. The results show that the territorial conditions limited the autonomous mobility and access to health services for the elderly with disabilities in both situations, before and after the earthquake.

The state of sidewalks in Asunción, Paraguay is far from being optimal. There are many problems such as obstructions, necessary repairs, lack of ramps, unevenness of surface, among others. In addition, the Municipality of Asunción does not have automated mechanisms to know the updated status of sidewalks. In this work we propose SmartMoving, a mobile application that collects information on the state of the sidewalks, with the help of citizens, and recommends pedestrian paths with fewer obstacles. The application can be especially useful for people with reduced mobility, as well as for the Municipality of Asunción. This type of application is based on citizen participation, since it receives data from them, and therefore requires a particularly friendly user experience, adapted to users and their daily context. Therefore, the need for a participatory and user-centered design, as a basis for the development of the application. Therefore, in this paper we present the SmartMoving application and the user-centered design process that has been followed for its development, involving users with reduced mobility.

Abstract Tourist flows in historical cities are continuously growing in a globalized world and adequate governance processes, politics and tools are necessary in order to reduce impacts on the urban livability and to guarantee the preservation of cultural heritage. The ICTs offer the possibility of collecting large amount of data that can point out and quantify some statistical and dynamic properties of human mobility emerging from the individual behavior and referring to a whole road network. In this paper we analyze a new dataset that has been collected by the Italian mobile phone company TIM, which contains the GPS positions of a relevant sample of mobile devices when they actively connected to the cell phone network. Our aim is to propose innovative tools allowing to study properties of pedestrian mobility on the whole road network. Venice is a paradigmatic example for the impact of tourist flows on the resident life quality and on the preservation of cultural heritage. The GPS data provide anonymized georeferenced information on the displacements of the devices. After a filtering procedure, we develop specific algorithms able to reconstruct the daily mobility paths on the whole Venice road network. The statistical analysis of the mobility paths suggests the existence of a travel time budget for the mobility and points out the role of the rest times in the empirical relation between the mobility time and the corresponding path length. We succeed to highlight two connected mobility subnetworks extracted from the whole road network, that are able to explain the majority of the observed mobility. Our approach shows the existence of characteristic mobility paths in Venice for the tourists and for the residents. Moreover the data analysis highlights the different mobility features of the considered case studies and it allows to detect the mobility paths associated to different points of interest. Finally we have disaggregated the Italian and foreigner categories to study their different mobility behaviors.

The study setting covers Kafeler Streets, being in a center of entertainment in Isparta. In the grid-shaped area, structurally comprised of streets, the shops are placed opposite and next to each other. Space Syntax, a collection of techniques for understanding, describing and predicting the perception of cities' spatial formation and pedestrian movements, was used. It focuses on the unifying effect of the grid structure of the area where it is located. The impact of grid city forms on integration and pedestrian movements is an important question. The effect of the urban grid on user mobility was studied by analyzing the space sequence of the area and performing pedestrian counts on each street. When other factors are homogenized, the spatial formation determines the user movements. In this method, where facts such as space and urban topography are decisive, the movement patterns in the environment are referred. Thus, questioning the impact of the urban grid on pedestrian mobility and determining what these effects are forms the purpose of the study. The study showed that urban grid parameters such as street width, functions of them and buildings' height affect pedestrian mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines forms and functions of pedestrian movement in Sally Wainwright's television film To Walk Invisible (BBC, 2016) about the lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë. Proceeding from the premise that walking constitutes a core trope of the Brontë myth, the paper begins with a survey of figurations of walking in the biographies and works of the Brontë sisters, in filmic adaptations of their novels and lives, and in the industry of literary tourism in Haworth. In close readings of selected scenes from the biopic, the article illustrates that Wainwright employs walking as a versatile cinematic tool to characterise the three sisters and to assign to them different concepts of authorship. Furthermore, To Walk Invisible uses pedestrian mobility as a metaphor to critique gender ideologies of Victorian Britain for a contemporary audience and to market the Yorkshire moors as an attractive tourist destination. Finally, walking also features as a self-referential impulse in the film. It allows Wainwright to open a metaperspective on the Brontë myth in British heritage culture to which To Walk Invisible itself contributes as a literary biopic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ease of mobility within a city is one of the essential aspects of urban planning. Quality of pedestrian mobility is the key to attain liveability and inclusivity in a city. However, the gender lens towards understanding the mobility patterns of women and young girls is largely missing from the urban planning process. Due to this exclusion, the majority of Indian cities are not gender friendly. To address this issue, this study tried to propose a 3 step framework for mitigating gender safety issues while a woman walks in a city. The 3 steps involve identifying the key elements of pedestrian mobility; quantitatively evaluating the qualitative parameters; and visual analysis for validating the major issues. This paper presents a pilot study conducted in the city of Kanpur, India. The research was initiated by conducting focus group discussions among 23 participants to map their typical movement patterns and identify 6 key elements of pedestrian mobility. Subsequently, the study conducted a net promoter score (NPS) survey among 423 participants to gauge the safety perception levels on each of the 6 key elements against 5 deduced qualitative parameters via literature review. NPS is a user satisfaction measurement tool which is based on the user perception used by companies and brands. Since urban safety is largely to do with perception, a NPS metric is employed. Further, the paper employed heatmap analysis and derived 3 critical areas based on gender safety perception to deep dive i.e. accessibility and lighting at sidewalks; lack of lighting at underpass; and absence of street furniture at bus stops. Visual analysis was undertaken to understand and validate the respective safety perceptions. The NPS score and visual analysis helped to generate actionable recommendations to enhance the safety perception of women in the city, especially pertaining to pedestrian mobility. • Mobility and pedestrian movement pattern helps to identify gaps in gender sensitive urban planning. • Net Promoter Score (NPS) can also be applied to gauge the safety perception levels in urban areas. • Etic and emic visual analysis can help in diagnosing the issues better than armchair research. • Gender concerns in urban areas can be dealt both qualitatively and quantitatively using mixed methods. • Participatory approach is key to attain social sustainability in urban areas wrt gender safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goals: This study focuses on assessing disaster risks in a typical inmegacity in Latin America. The baseline focuses on the logistics characteristics of the last mile, the vulnerability of buildings and the mobility of pedestrians. Design / Methodology / Approach: A risk assessment procedure is developed using logistic metrics through a methodology that captures the most relevant urban information within a square kilometer, and two complementary methods that provide support to obtain metrics associated with the occurrence of disasters. Results: The results show that the majority of blocks in the analyzed area have levels of precautionary risk due to their high level of store density, structure’s vulnerability, pedestrian movement and freight flow. Limitations of the research: The main limitations for the data collection were the insecurity, the level of informality and the chaos presented in the studied area. Practical implications: The main findings allow decision makers to know the most vulnerable areas of the place and, thus, propose recommendations for public policies based on urban knowledge. In addition, the proposed method can be taken as a reference to be applied to other zones of similar characteristics. Originality / Value: This research develops a methodology that evaluates the risks and mitigates the impact on a specific unstudied commercial area, combining three existing methodologies to correctly asses risk on certain zones. This work is an extension of the work of Huivin et al. (2020); the added value is that it provides deeper literature reviewing that help decision-makers and researchers to know the actual state of the art.