In a city like Eugene, with miles of paths and trails, it is not unusual for residents to throw on their shoes and, weather permitting, hoof it a few blocks. But according to a University professor’s recent research, pedestrians all over may be willing to walk twice as far as most experts previously expected.
The study, co-authored by University public policy and management professor Marc Schlossberg and San Jose State University researcher Asha Weinstein, might have a significant impact on how city planners lay out the blueprints for urban areas.
The research found that, though it was generally accepted that most people are only willing to walk a quarter-mile to get somewhere, subjects averaged about a half-mile stroll in their day-to-day routines. The findings disprove a largely unexplored notion, he said.
“There hasn’t been a lot of research done on this. It’s just popular lore,” Schlossberg said. “The idea of expanding it from a quarter-mile to a half-mile becomes a significant increase in what city planners can play with … It really alters the landscape of what we know.”
City planners typically cluster popular destinations around transit stations so users don’t have to walk as far to reach them. Changing the scope in which they work could allow developers more room to design, Schlossberg said.
Rob Inerfeld, senior transportation planner with the City of Eugene, said the city is already taking steps to cater to pedestrians and bicyclists. At a recent Walking and Biking Summit held on campus, Inerfeld said, more than 200 residents attended to discuss related urban planning topics.
“That tells me that people here really care about this issue,” he said.
Even if people decide to drive on a trip, walkability still comes into play after the car is parked, Inerfeld said.
“Almost every trip people take involves some walking to get to your destination,” he said.
The idea of doubling the generally accepted rule of thumb to a half-mile could allow city planners more flexibility to plan certain areas in the works, he said.
“I think that’s a very positive sign, that people are willing to walk a little more than we thought,” Inerfeld said.
In the study, the researchers approached 328 pedestrians in urban areas near San Francisco and Portland with surveys about what factors most affected their decisions to walk. While shortness of distance was the clear choice among most, some also expressed environment – the presence of trees or other aesthetically pleasing features – as another determining factor, something Schlossberg said developers have already taken to heart.
“In the last five years, this has become a hot topic in planning and development circles,” he said.
Weinstein said she would like to see the study lead to further research into other factors that affect walkability, such as the type of neighborhood examined.
“It also might be interesting to repeat this study somewhere that’s not as well maintained – a problem neighborhood where buildings are less maintained, and crime is more of a problem,” Weinstein said.
As for Eugene, Schlossberg said he felt the city does a good job of providing a walker-friendly environment, both aesthetically and with design.
“Eugene is a phenomenal place to walk,” he said. “In terms of the general infrastructure, we have a great place.”
One challenge the city does face, as most others do, is having residential, commercial and business districts segregated. As a result, most residents are forced to drive the long distance from one region to another, Schlossberg said.
Eugene has taken steps to counter this problem in future development projects by combining separate districts into one “mixed-use” district, Inerfeld said.
“The idea of mixed-use areas is that you have a mix of uses in close proximity to each other in an area that is very walkable and bikeable, and with good transit service,” he said.
Less dependence on vehicles in favor of walking can also reduce emissions problems, but the initiative might have to come from the city, not from environmental campaigns, Schlosser said.
“If that’s one of the goals, you’re not going to get it by guilting people out of their cars,” he said. “It’s got to come from city planning, too.”
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