Description

The Walkability Audit Tool (WAT) is an assessment tool used to evaluate the “walkability” of an area. Walkability refers to how conducive an environment is for walking, considering factors such as safety, accessibility, and convenience for pedestrians. The WAT helps in identifying strengths and weaknesses in urban or suburban environments in terms of promoting walking as a mode of transportation and physical activity.

Analysis and Use of Data

The data collected using the WAT can be analyzed to provide insights into how well an area supports walking as a healthy and sustainable form of transportation. By evaluating sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, traffic conditions, and other factors, researchers or urban planners can identify areas that may need improvement to enhance pedestrian infrastructure. The tool helps in developing urban plans and policies aimed at improving pedestrian access and safety.

Purpose

The main purpose of the Walkability Audit Tool is to:

Assess the quality and safety of pedestrian infrastructure.

Identify barriers to walking in a specific area.

Provide recommendations for improving walkability to promote physical activity and environmental sustainability.

Scoring

The WAT uses a scoring system to evaluate various aspects of an area’s walkability, such as the condition of sidewalks, availability of pedestrian crossings, traffic speed, lighting, and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The scores help to categorize areas as highly walkable, moderately walkable, or needing improvement. The final scores are used to guide urban development and improvement projects.

Bibliography

Frank, L. D., Sallis, J. F., Conway, T. L., Chapman, J. E., Saelens, B. E., & Bachman, W. (2006). Many pathways from land use to health: Associations between neighborhood walkability and active transportation, body mass index, and air quality. Journal of the American Planning Association, 72(1), 75-87.

Leslie, E., Coffee, N., Frank, L., Owen, N., Bauman, A., & Hugo, G. (2007). Walkability of local communities: Using geographic information systems to objectively assess relevant environmental attributes. Health & Place, 13(1), 111-122.

Saelens, B. E., Sallis, J. F., & Frank, L. D. (2003). Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: Findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 25(2), 80-91.