Assessing Urban Form Impacts on Walkability in Small Cities

Thesis Abstract

This study investigates how urban form characteristics influence walkability in small cities, addressing the rising concerns about pedestrian safety, health outcomes, and sustainable mobility in contexts with limited high-density development. The research aims to quantify the relationships between street network configuration, land-use mix, sidewalk quality, street cross-sections, and perceived and measured walkability, with the goal of providing actionable guidance for urban policy and planning practice. Specific objectives are (1) to quantify the association between objective urban form indicators (intersection density, land-use mix entropy, block size, street width, and sidewalk continuity) and objective walkability metrics (pedestrian pickup/drop-off density, route directness, and average walking speed) across five small cities; (2) to examine how perceived walkability mediates the relationship between urban form and actual pedestrian travel behavior using survey data; (3) to identify contextual moderators (topography, climate, and socio-economic composition) that condition these relationships; and (4) to develop a parsimonious, transferable model of urban form–walkability linkages for small-city planning guidelines. A mixed-methods approach is employed in a cross-sectional design, combining quantitative GIS-derived indicators, pedestrian perception surveys, and micro-level field observations. The population comprises residents and commuters in five mid-sized small cities with populations ranging from 60,000 to 180,000. A stratified random sample of 1,000 respondents is targeted for the survey, complemented by 200 systematic field observations and 40 micro-level measurements of sidewalk quality and curb ramp accessibility. Data collection instruments include a GIS-based urban form index, standardized walkability perception questionnaire adapted from validated scales, time-use diaries for a two-week period to capture walking episodes, and a structured field observation checklist to assess sidewalk continuity, legibility, and pedestrian infrastructure features. Instrument validity and reliability are established through pilot testing (n=60) and test-retest reliability (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.78 for perception scales; inter-rater agreement ? > 0.70 for observational measures). Analytical techniques include multilevel linear and logistic regression to assess associations between urban form variables and walkability outcomes, structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the mediating role of perceived walkability, and moderated regression analyses to identify contextual influences. Spatial econometrics (spatial lag and spatial error models) is employed to account for spatial autocorrelation in neighborhood-level data. A discrete choice framework analyzes stated willingness to increase walking given hypothetical urban form improvements. The theoretical foundation draws on Space Syntax theory to elucidate network-based accessibility, and the New Urbanism and Legibility theories to interpret land-use mix, street design, and wayfinding effects. The study also engages the Theory of Planned Behavior to link perception to behavior. Expected findings anticipate a positive association between higher intersection density, finer-grained land-use mix, and continuous sidewalks with objective walkability scores, moderated by climate and topography. Perceived walkability is hypothesized to partially mediate the urban form–walking behavior relationship, while socio-economic factors and local safety perceptions are expected to influence the strength of associations. The results will yield a transferable model linking specific urban form configurations to walkability outcomes, enabling scenario-based planning for small cities. The study contributes to knowledge by operationalizing urban form–walkability linkages in the small-city context, integrating objective GIS-based measures with subjective user perceptions and actual travel behavior, and advancing methodological approaches for mixed-methods urban mobility research. It offers evidence-based guidance for municipal authorities on prioritizing pedestrian-friendly interventions such as retrofitting street networks, optimizing land-use density gradients, and ensuring accessible sidewalk infrastructure in diverse environmental and socio-economic settings. The main conclusion is that tailored, context-sensitive urban form improvements can substantially enhance walkability in small cities, with policy recommendations emphasizing targeted street network enhancements, equitable land-use planning, and proactive measures to improve perceived safety and comfort for pedestrians.