Visualization Of Barriers To Walk: Transforming Interview Responses To Walkability Evaluation Paths (WEPS)

Walking is essential for sustainable transportation policies, yet the factors influencing walkability are complex, encompassing dimensions like infrastructure, safety, and comfort. To understand these interactions, a comprehensive Walkability Factor Catalog (WFC) was developed using literature and interview data. A graph theory-based approach modeled walking decisions, connecting factors (nodes) visited in a traveler’s mind and their relationships (links) in an imaginary network. Responses from semi-structured interviews were digitized and processed, creating walkability evaluation paths for each traveler. These paths were graphically represented in a Geographical Information System, forming a walkability factor relation map that highlighted the most important walkability factors and their connections.The analysis identified major walkability barriers, including infrastructure issues like staircases and sidewalk widths, and safety/comfort concerns like winter conditions. Maintenance problems combined with winter conditions were notably significant. Differences in barriers and preferences were observed between genders and between students and personnel. This novel approach aims to develop a simple engineering tool to study the complex travel decision-making process from an interdisciplinary perspective. Its main contribution lies in the mathematical representation and visualization of walking barriers, supporting necessary policies and interventions to increase walking. The flexible nature of the WFC facilitates a common methodology for evaluations in various environments, globally.