Compact city and walkable urban environment： Toward functional enhancement of daily living area and walking area

Abstract

The compact city policy and the conversion policy to achieve a comfortable walkable environment are trends in city planning. American research suggests that land use mix, street connectivity, walking infrastructure and safety, aesthetics, safety from traffic accidents, and less crime rate are recognized as important factors to enhance walkability. As a result of analyses of data from the Yokohama Walking Point Project, it was found that walking is most encouraged when the temperature is a little, below 20°C; that the amount of walking is greater in early-aged men and middle-aged women near commercial areas; that the slope increases exercise intensity for middle-aged women but discourages elderly women from walking; that the number of three-way intersections increases walking activity; that walkability index developed in Japan can accurately predict the amount of walking in Japan, and that large parks enhanced walking in the state of emergency due to COVID-19. It is also shown that having affordable grocery stores within walking distance is important for good nutrition. These pieces of evidence are important in redesigning walkable urban space.