A participatory mapping approach to capturing perceived walkability

We present a novel method for capturing citizens’ views on perceived walkability. Peoples’ decisions to use any transport mode are determined by perceived accessibility, thus perceived walkability is vital to the decision to walk for transport. To date, approaches to understanding perceived walkability, such as detailed ‘walkability audit’ instruments, have been difficult to scale and linked only to respondents’ residential locations. In contrast our research uses an online mapping tool designed to rapidly capture vague knowledge about places. Respondents use a map interface to spray-paint the most and least walkable areas across the city of Sydney, Australia, along with defining the area they regularly walk from home and where they would be willing to walk. They also provide free-text input to explain their responses. This approach enables data collection of respondents’ holistic understanding of the walkability of different areas based on the local knowledge and experience of the city. Pilot results together with qualitative analysis of text submitted in response to open ended questions are presented to demonstrate the feasibility, face validity and potential of the method. A comparison with an accessibility-based walkability index, WalkTHERE, for Sydney is shown. Results are broadly aligned, but the perceived walkability results presented highlight the negative environmental quality of walking near high-traffic roads and the positive aspects of natural and water views, which are not captured in this walkability index. Perceived walkable areas around the home were on average similar in overall area to the common standard of 15-minute buffers, but longer in their longest dimension, and have irregular shapes. Detailed methodology for analysis of the online mapping inputs is provided. This method has potential for rapid yet rich data collection, particularly when used together with a walkability model to understand differences which can point to localised problems with walking environment quality.