Title: A simple method to assess walkability around metro stations

Authors: Khaled Shaaban; Abdalla Siam; Ali Badran; Mohammed Shamiyah

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Civil Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Civil Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Civil Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar

Abstract: The ability to walk or ride a bike safely to and from metro stations is essential to the success of any metro service, especially for car users switching to the service. The main purpose of this study is to develop and apply a simple method to assess, compare, and rank walkability around different metro stations, with a priority order and specific recommendations for improvements. The proposed method depends on extracting different walkability variables in the catchment areas around metro stations. Three catchment areas around three proposed metro stations in the emerging city of Doha, Qatar were investigated using the proposed method to demonstrate its usefulness. The method was successful in comparing and ranking the different catchment areas, in addition to identifying priority areas for walkability enhancements in each area. This method is simple and can benefit professionals, practitioners, and policy makers to make swift decisions for future corrective measures, and can also be used to evaluate changes over time.

Keywords: transit-oriented development; TOD; public transportation; transit stations; urban design; bus stations; accessibility; urban communities; walkability; metro stations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2018.092651

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2018 Vol.10 No.1, pp.1 - 19

Received: 15 Dec 2017
Accepted: 29 Mar 2018
Published online: 26 Jun 2018 *

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