External link: http://trrjournalonline.trb.org/doi/10.3141/2307-06

Publication date: December 1, 2012

Capsule summary: The research and analysis gives an overview of factors that contribute to people’s prioritization of walking over other forms of transportation.

Author(s): Bricka, Stacey; Sener, Ipek N; Dusza, Casey; Wood, Nick; Hudson, Joan

Publisher(s): TRB

Definition: Planning practices for pedestrians, bikes and transit
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/research-theme/bikeped/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definition: Data analysis techniques for transportation planning
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/research-theme/data/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
TRID Search Results Page: https://trid.trb.org/results.aspx?tc=NN:Xbka
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Definitions: The movement of people
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/mode/personal/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definitions: Transportation on foot
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/mode/personal/pedestrian/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
TRID Search Results Page: https://trid.trb.org/results.aspx?tc=NN:Mwx
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Definition: A federally funded transportation policy-making organization, comprised of local government representatives and transportation authorities
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/org/mpo/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definition: Administrative subdivision of a state
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/org/county/
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Definition: A large urban area
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/org/city/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definition: Article from an academic or professional journal
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/resource-type/article/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Description: This research paper delves into community factors such as environment, existing infrastructure, socio- economic make-up of the community, etc. contributes to a walking environment in small urban areas. With those factors in mind, the paper seeks methods to encourage the trend of walking.

Objectives: This paper analyzes outside factors of a community to see how community members are influenced to walk versus use other forms of transportation. The larger goal of this research paper is to connect how identifying such factors allow metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to prioritize investment.

Findings: The paper found that limiting access to automobiles played a role in directing people towards walking and other forms of transportation. But there continues to be a gap in information and more research is needed to determine the purpose of pedestrians and how infrastructure can be built to help with their purpose.

Recommendations: This research paper recommends that the testing and gathering of data be a continuous process in order to continue improving the model and methods for a sound built infrastructure. Additionally, the paper recommends that in future testing, the data gathered be more thorough and detailed because it provides more information and allows for in- depth analysis. The paper also recommends analysis of change over time of data- to see long term trends and how investments and development change and return over time. The paper proposes stronger communication between small urban area researchers to contribute to the bigger research and development goals with shared knowledge and experiences that will allow for a better urban area planning method for the future. Such research is proposed to happen in the same area as this paper but also recommended in other small urban areas for a larger and more accurate data pool.

Research Theme: Innovative Data Analysis, Planning for Pedestrians, Bikes, and Transit

Community Type: City, Medium City, Small City

Transportation Mode: Pedestrian, Personal

Planning Scope:

Organization Type: City, County, MPO or RPO

Planning Subject: Analysis, Evaluation and Assessment, Forecasting, Planning Methods