Rethinking Walkability: Prioritizing Pedestrian Movement

Hong Kong boasts a legacy of transit-oriented development that is leading the city away from car-centric design. However, high-traffic streets, large street blocks, and missing sidewalks can make it difficult to walk between home, work, and school.

In "Walking (In)Convenience: An In-Depth Study of Pedestrian Detours to Daily Facilities" (Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol 90., No. 3) Becky P. Y. Loo, Ting Lian, and Lawrence D. Frank bring into focus pedestrian frustration by measuring pedestrian detour ratios (PDRs).

The Long Way Round

This territory-wide analysis covered 3.85 million walking trips in Hong Kong. The authors measured how much farther pedestrians had to walk to reach their destinations compared to the direct, crow-fly distance. They contributed to existing detour studies by distinguishing six types of public facilities and applying the method on a citywide scale.

For example, a higher density of sports centers correlated with higher PDRs, or less convenient walking, indicating that these facilities may present barriers. Minor open spaces usually offer shortcuts, increasing convenience.

The authors noted that increased convenience around public transport facilities resulted from bus companies' efforts to improve pedestrian accessibility and the fact that most large bus terminals allow pedestrians to pass through. Vehicle-oriented street blocks with higher traffic volumes and more private parking spaces generally experienced higher PDRs.

Across all facilities, the authors found that more pedestrian crossings and safe sidewalks significantly increased walking convenience, while steep slopes at higher elevations led to more detours. The best walkability was found in Hong Kong's central business district.

The authors emphasize the importance of place-based design. In Hong Kong, installing elevated or underground pedestrian links — such as footbridges, subways, and lifts — is particularly helpful in hilly areas and during the summer and rainy seasons. A weatherproof walking environment is important for pedestrian convenience, especially for vulnerable populations.

Figure 1: Two walking routes from residential buildings to primary schools: (a) minimal detour; and (b) long detour. The walking distance for both walking routes is about 750m.

A Shortcut to What?

This study highlights the need to calm vehicular traffic and improve the pedestrian walkway system. The authors advocate for planning strategies that prioritize pedestrian-friendly environments.

While recognizing the importance of medium- and long-term solutions, the authors identify short-term enhancements to improve the walking experience on long-distance or detour-heavy routes. These enhancements include improving sidewalk quality, addressing traffic noise, and installing benches, shelters, trees, lighting, and fences to enhance walking comfort.

Alleviating safety concerns is another key focus of these improvements. Although pedestrian route directness is not the sole indicator of walkability, it remains important and should be integrated into planning a pedestrian-friendly community.

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