Influence of urban form on pedestrian perception of walkable environment

Abstract

Planning pedestrian environments requires assumptions about how pedestrians will respond to characteristics of the environment as they formulate and enact their walking itineraries. As a consequence, most research interest in public environments focuses on behaviour in relation to those characteristics. This research is an examination of the relationship between aspects of urban form and pedestrian perceptions toward walking. The concept of Walkablility is a popular concept that is widely used in urban centres of developed countries. It is obvious that the concept has contributed a great deal to the urban environment, more importantly; it has returned the urban areas to the pedestrian to use, enjoy, shop apart from the fact that walking contributes to reduce the negative impact of vehicular traffic. To the tourists, walking is the main mode of communication for them to know the life style, culture, architecture of the locals apart from doing some shopping. In relation to this, a study is conducted in a selected study site around historical core of Melaka town, between A’famosa and Dutch Square as the main tourist centers. The characteristics of “Walkable environments” as identified in the literature review formed the basis to evaluate whether the study area meets the characteristics of walkable street. This research also employed observation survey that identified the characteristics of urban forms. Another important component is to study and identify the pedestrian perception of walkable environments by questionnaires were conducted in several selected locations in and around the study area. Based on the findings; issues, problems and suggestions were compiled, analyzed and finally schematic and conceptual solutions were formulated. Because pedestrians value the shortest, safest, least-crowded, and easiest to navigate routes, this study found that confusing routes, unsafe or indirect connections, and a lack of amenities detract from the walkability in Melaka historic centre.