perceived walkability evaluation in transit station catchment areas in Bangkok

Abstract

Urban rail transit is being developed in the developing countries to alleviate traffic congestion. However, station access was generally not good, especially in the area within a walking distance around the station. This study considered the walkability based on the objective and subjective points of view. The case study were the 25 rail transit stations in Bangkok. The objective walkability evaluation revealed that the station catchment areas were not pedestrian-friendly. This study proposed a concept of perceived walkability. Based on the structural equation modeling, the perceived walkability index was evaluated. The results revealed that the pedestrian perceived not only the physical conditions of the walkway, such as width and tree, but also its subjective attributes, such as safety and convenience. The findings provided insights to enhance the transit-oriented development along the railway corridor.