Assessment framework of walking satisfaction on sidewalks in commercial districts: Combining built environment and personal attributes (applied in Japan)

Researchers are increasingly interested in the impact of the built environment on urban walkability. Pedestrian satisfaction is a key indicator of walkability and can elucidate latent factors to improve walking environment. This study develops an assessment framework for evaluating walking satisfaction on sidewalks in commercial districts in Japan according to the built environment and personal attributes. Questionnaire surveys were used to collect data from 963 Japanese residents' impact ratings of built environment variables. Six factors were extracted following exploratory factor analysis. Second-order confirmatory factor analysis was then applied to further explore the relationship between observed variables and latent factors. Latent class analysis was employed to classify the population, and personal attributes served as covariates in the multinomial logistic regression analysis to explore how these attributes affected the latent classes. The results indicated that visual impression, spatial richness, accessibility, comfort, diversity, and security influence pedestrian walking satisfaction on sidewalks in commercial districts. Travel purpose and travel method are important indicators that influence the latent classes of the population. The result presented herein can guide policy makers to optimize the construction of walkable urban environments and enact policies based on the factors and populations that are best suited to urban development.