Perceptions and Evaluation of an Urban Environment for Pedestrian Friendliness: A Case Study

Public health is an increasingly important issue addressed from both environmental and public health sectors for the future development of urban environments. From a planning perspective, one possible solution is to increase walkability throughout the cities. Many assessment methods are being developed and administered to evaluate the quality of existing urban environments to promote walkable cities/communities. The results from using these methods provide policymakers and stakeholders with valuable information regarding the existing physical conditions of the environment. Although several US cities started to develop and refocus plans toward pedestrian-oriented policies approaches, results from this particular study determined that the quality of pedestrian environments cannot solely be determined by using available assessment tools and recommend additional analytical methods used in conjunction with source data to provide a complete perspective to successfully increase the quality of life. The condition of the physical environment – high, average, and low quality – was important contributing factors to increase walkability, yet, it is equally important to understand and consider the needs, preferences and perceptions of end users when public officials are charged with the task of developing plan proposals for pedestrian neighborhoods. This study addresses these issues through a case study examining the quality of pedestrian environment and how people perceive those surroundings of downtown San Luis Obispo.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of City and Regional Planning

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

City and Regional Planning

Year dc:date.available

2010

Author dc:creator

• Lee, Elizabeth H

Contributors dc:contributor

• Umut Toker

• Pedestrian Environment
• People's Perception
• Pedestrian Activity
• Health Assessment Tool
• Pedestrian Behavior/Attitude
• Case Study
• Environmental Design
• Environmental Policy
• Environmental Public Health
• Landscape Architecture
• Place and Environment
• Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation
• Public Policy
• Urban, Community and Regional Planning
• Urban Studies
• Urban Studies and Planning

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2010.157

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-1411