Subjective Walkability and Bikeability: Analysis of Built Environment and Safety at a Campus Area

With a growing interest in promoting sustainable and healthy modes of transportation within academic settings, this study aimed to identify factors that influence the campus community's preferences for walking and bicycling. To assess the perceptions of the campus walking and bicycling environments, two subjective indices were developed based on the input from university campus members. The analysis involved studying campus members' walking and bicycling habits, and further utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between different variables. The results indicated notable gender disparities in the frequency of active transportation on campus, with male students showing a higher inclination to ride bicycles compared to female students. This discrepancy was primarily attributed to the safety and security concerns encountered by female students. The present study also focused on the influence of built environment characteristics on walkability and bikeability scores. Clear and unobstructed pathways, well-marked bike lanes, appropriate lighting conditions, and the presence of visible traffic control devices emerged as significant factors impacting the perceived walking and bicycling conditions on campus. The SEM analysis also highlighted a positive correlation between walkability and bikeability scores, indicating that improvements in one domain have a beneficial impact on the other.