Abstract
This study compares affective walking experiences (AWE) and walking intentions (WI) in five locations of the city center of Bristol, UK and tests the relationship between AWE and WI with inferential analysis and qualitative research.
An online experiment was conducted with 269 adults who work and/or study in Bristol.
Findings confirmed that WI varied between settings and that WI were influenced by affective walking experiences.
Policy implications are also discussed. First, the development of traffic-free areas in urban settings is recommended. Second, improvements on the walking infrastructure can contribute to WI. Third, cleanliness and maintenance of streets and public areas should be enhanced. Fourth, results strengthen rationales for preservation and conservation of historic areas, buildings, and elements such as lampposts. Fifth, incorporating green and blue elements in cities is a successful strategy to improve psychological wellbeing and increase WI. Finally, spaces to socialise should be a priority for city designers.
This chapter compares affective walking experiences (AWE) and walking intentions (WI) in five locations of the city center of Bristol, UK and tests the relationship between AWE and WI with inferential analysis and qualitative research on built environment. Traffic was among the most important barrier of the AWE and WI, and this is related to noise and air pollution related to traffic. Measures of AWE were taken before and after the video; these included Hedonic tone and Tense arousal from the UWIST MACL Scale, both on 16-point scales. Urban design improvements could also contribute to the AWE. These include enlargement and improvement of pavements and prioritisation of pedestrians during road works and constructions, interventions which would minimise the discomfort for pedestrians during walking. The relevance of the AWE echoes findings by C. Guell and Ogilve that showed that 'wellbeing' is among 'the most prominent narratives' of traveling.