The Relationship Between Perceived and Measured Walkability, Travel Satisfaction, and Attitudes: An Exploratory Study in Columbus, Ohio
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Date
2025-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The global climate is increasingly stressed by emissions from human activity, many of which are produced by automobile transportation. It is therefore critical to consider ways to rapidly shift travel behavior to more sustainable modes of transportation like walking, biking, and public transportation, which produce much lower greenhouse gas emissions than car travel. This research focuses on walkability, which is considered a key determinant of whether urban travelers engage in walking and are willing to shift from car travel to walking. It is broadly assumed that an urban environment that scores high on “objective” walkability metrics leads to more walking. However, the strength of this link is influenced by a range of different factors, including attitudes, travel satisfaction, current mode choices, and the traveler’s own perception of the walkability. Using data from an empirical study of travelers in Columbus, this research examines two overall questions: First, how the relationship between a common walkability measure and perceived walkability is moderated by the traveler’s mode use and attitudes, and second, how the effect of walkability on satisfaction differs by mode use and attitudes. These findings contribute to the understanding of the role walkability plays in travel mode choice and satisfaction and offer insights for urban planning and sustainable transportation initiatives.
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Keywords
Walkability, Travel Satisfaction, Attitudes, Sustainable Travel Behavior