Impact of the Built Environment on Active Transportation: Empirical Evidence from a Developing Context
Topics: Transportation Geography
, Quantitative Methods
, Urban and Regional Planning
Keywords: Built environment, Active transportation, Structural Equation Modelling, Geographic Information System, Bangladesh
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 6
Authors:
Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, The William States Lee College of Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
Sharfan Upaul, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), Khulna-9203, Bangladesh
Mahinur Rahman, Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), House: A-18/6, Genda, Savar, Dhaka-1340, Bangladesh
Jean-Claude Thill, Dept. of Geography and Earth Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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Abstract
Urban structure and condition of the transport system influence people’s travel mode choices. Extant research has reported that factors of the built environment (BE) significantly influence motorized and non-motorized travel decisions. However, there is a lack of evidence about the impact of BE on active transportation (AT) in developing contexts. Thus, the study aims to measure the existing condition of BE in the mid-size city of Khulna, Bangladesh, and to investigate the impact of BE on AT. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we observed that although the existing condition of BE is conducive to AT, the use of AT is depressed due to the abundance of cheap motorized vehicles. The sparsely distributed transport nodes and linear pattern of the city and its main transport corridor point to inadequate facilities for AT. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework is used to find the causal relationships between BE and AT in Khulna, based on a conceptual model. The calibrated SEM shows that compactness and the condition of sidewalks significantly increase walking propensity while decreasing bicycling tendency. The roadway infrastructure (i.e., more lanes, quality) reduces people’s walking and bicycling due to wider options of motorized vehicles. Additionally, longer travel distance and higher travel cost significantly reduce people’s walking tendency. Overall, BE has a high effect on AT compared to the socioeconomic and personal attributes of people. The study findings will be useful for policy formulation and support funding allocation to infrastructure enhancing active travel to achieve sustainable urban development in the Global South.
Impact of the Built Environment on Active Transportation: Empirical Evidence from a Developing Context
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Virtual Paper Abstract
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