Evaluating the usability of an omnidirectional treadmill in combination with immersive virtual reality for environmental research on walking behavior

Walking offers substantial health and environmental benefits, yet real-world studies on walking behavior often struggle with environmental control and recall bias. This study explores Virtual Reality (VR) combined with an omnidirectional treadmill as a novel, immersive method to examine environmental factors influencing walking for transport. The study aimed to (1) assess the usability of the VR setup and (2) evaluate whether it can identify walking-related environmental factors consistent with findings from traditional methods. s: A convenience sample of 37 participants aged 12 and older completed a VR walking session on a modeled urban street in Ghent, Belgium. After a familiarization phase, participants walked while verbalizing their thoughts using the think-aloud method. Usability was assessed through questionnaires measuring presence, realism, VR sickness, and task load. Qualitative data were analyzed using deductive content analysis. Participants reported moderate to high immersion and low VR sickness. However, the treadmill's physical and cognitive demands presented some usability challenges. Qualitative analysis identified environmental factors influencing walking, such as perceived safety, sidewalk quality, and aesthetics, that align with previous walk-along studies in real environments. This study highlights the potential of VR as a controlled and immersive tool for studying environmental factors related to walking behavior. The findings establish a strong foundation for future research exploring diverse urban settings and their impact on walking as a mode of transport. • Virtual Reality with an omnidirectional treadmill offers a controlled and immersive method for studying walking behavior. • The VR setup provided moderate to high immersion while maintaining low levels of VR sickness. • Participants identified key micro-environmental factors influencing walking for transport. • VR can serve as a valuable tool for studying pedestrian-friendly urban design.