Walking in Tehran: obligation and other factors in deciding where and whether to walk

Seyed Moeini, "Attitudes to Urban Walking in Tehran," Environment and Planning B 39 (2012): 2

The take-away: Regarding Tehran, Iran, this study investigates factors contributing to walking in residential areas. While factors including security, street connectivity, public health education, and sociodemograhic indicators emerge as important determinants of pedestrian movement, the study finds that walking in general in Tehran is practiced out of need or obligation, not out of choice.

(a) Pedestrian collision with vehicles; (b) an unsafe crossing (Tehran, Iran). Note: Images and captions are excerpted from the article (Figure 5, page 356).

Abstract

There is a growing interest in increasing walking in urban areas, partly to reduce pollution and other problems related to transportation by cars, and partly to improve public health (through reasonable exercise such as walking). In this study several factors that influence the amount of pedestrian movement in Tehran (Iran) are explored. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews, and included sociodemographic indicators, people's perceptions of the neighborhoods where they live or work, and daily walking time in District 6 of the City of Tehran. The results of the study show that security, street connectivity, public health education, and sociodemographic indicators such as age and education influence pedestrian movement in residential areas. Local sociocultural behavior and indicators such as age and education were found to be the most influential in the commercial areas in the study. On the other hand, the respondents' behavior showed that there is a surprisingly low tendency in the City of Tehran to walk out of choice. Almost all pedestrian movement appears to be in response to a need or an obligation to walk, such as for business or essential shopping.

Full article (requires access)