Evaluating The Walkability and Resident’s Perception of Safety in Residential Areas in Penang Island, Malaysia

Urban walkability and the perception of safety are crucial for enhancing the quality of life in residential neighbourhoods. While interest in these factors is growing, empirical evidence on how environmental characteristics influence safety perceptions in urban areas of developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, remains limited. This study investigates the relationship between walkability, encompassing both convenience and aesthetic appeal, and residents’ perceptions of safety in Bayan Baru, Penang, Malaysia. The primary objective was to assess how these characteristics affect perceived safety, a key determinant of walkability. We employed a quantitative approach, surveying 95 residents. The results showed significant positive correlations between convenience and attractiveness, as well as perceived safety, with attractiveness having a stronger effect. Regression analysis indicated that these factors account for about 23.2% of the variance in residents’ safety perceptions. The findings suggest that improving the aesthetic quality and accessibility of neighbourhoods can significantly enhance perceptions of safety, thereby promoting walkability. This emphasises the importance of integrating functional and aesthetic considerations in urban planning and policy, with implications for creating safer, more walkable urban environments in rapidly urbanising regions. These results align with Malaysia’s National Urbanisation Policy (NUP), which advocates for sustainable, inclusive urban development, and Penang's "Penang 2030" Vision, aiming to foster a more liveable, green, and pedestrian-friendly urban setting.