Measuring the Unmeasurable: Urban Design Qualities Related to Walkability

Reid Ewing · Susan Handy

1,716 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Urban Design

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Urban Design and Spatial Analysis Urban Transport and Accessibility Urban Green Space and Health

Abstract

This study attempts to comprehensively and objectively measure subjective qualities of the urban street environment. Using ratings from an expert panel, it was possible to measure five urban design qualities in terms of physical characteristics of streets and their edges: imageability, enclosure, human scale, transparency and complexity. The operational definitions do not always comport with the qualitative definitions, and provide new insights into the nature of these urban design qualities. The immediate purpose of this study is to arm researchers with operational definitions they can use to measure the street environment and test for significant associations with walking behaviour. A validation study is currently underway in New York City. Depending on the outcome of this and other follow-up research, the ultimate purpose would be to inform urban design practice.

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References

1962The Death and Life of Great American Cities 2015The Death and Life of Great American Cities 2006Identifying and Measuring Urban Design Qualities Related to Walkability 1987Toward an Urban Design Manifesto 1989City: rediscovering the center 1969Why Buildings Are Known 1987The Effect of Sign Complexity and Coherence on the Perceived Quality of Retail Scenes 2005Turning Highways into Main Streets: Two Innovations in Planning Methodology

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