A study on the Hierarchical Analysis of Universal Design Components of Sidewalks to Enhance Walkability

This study applied the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) to systematically analyze the universal design components of sidewalks to enhance walkability and set policy and design priorities. Four characteristics of universal design—supportiveness, acceptability, accessibility, and safety—were used as criteria, and detailed elements were identified through a survey of 16 experts. The results indicated that accessibility (0.505) and safety (0.349) were relatively more important among the criteria, while sub-criteria such as managing shared scooters and bicycles, clear separation of sidewalks and roadways, and improved public transportation connectivity ranked higher. In contrast, the provision of benches, resting spaces, and audio or voice guidance systems were found to be of lower importance. These findings are expected to provide a practical basis for establishing effective policies and design guidelines to enhance pedestrian environments in the future.