Commuters' perception of legibility and complexity with respect to path choice in central business district of Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

The effect of environmental factors on walking behavior needs to be considered based on the purpose of walking trip; whether walking for transport or walking for recreational purposes. Since everybody walks on his/her daily transport, studying walking behavior of those who walk for transport would contribute to maintain the minimum rate of physical activity. Commuters are the major group of those who walk for transport. It was found that the path choice of pedestrians can be considered to examine the effects of environmental factors on walking behavior. Introducing two environmental factors of perceived legibility and perceived complexity, it is demonstrated that the theoretical and empirical relationship between these factors and walking behavior as well as the path choice criteria, leads to define these two factors in accordance with commuter’s specifications. Accordingly, both perceived legibility and perceived complexity are two important path choice criteria of commuters in CBD of Kuala Lumpur.