Assessing Walkability of Built Environment in Main Street Corridors of Arada SubCity, Addis Ababa
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Date
2023-03-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Different components influence the walkability of places, and one of them is the built
environment. Urban design, land use patterns, and transportation system infrastructure are
attributes of the built environment. The main objective of this research was to assess the
walkability of Arada Sub-City's built environment using macro and micro scale indicators.
Three broader categories were used for classifying features of the built-up environment:
Land Use, Street Networks, and Urban Design. Pedestrians' perceptions about the corridors
were gathered to understand how they assessed safety and comfort. The data showed that
some qualities enhancing walkability do exist; these include dwelling and commercial
density, land-use mix, and public transportation infrastructure. Conversely, unequal
distribution of street amenities, lack of maintenance for walkways, usage of pedestrian space
as an extension area for commercial frontages, and a lack of universality are among the
downsides. Based on data collected from pedestrians, Churchill Ave. ranked highest in
comfort and safety. General recommendations were drawn to enhance walkability: adopt
design standards with design review for current or new infrastructure projects; pedestrian
infrastructure management to prevent wrong practices; improvement in building control
regulations to make frontages more active and vibrant; and better integration between
pedestrian infrastructures with other institutions.
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Keywords
Walkability, built environment, walkability indices