MICROSCALE, PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT AND SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Abstract

Walkability is understood as urban quality with two main scales, the mesoscale and the microscale. The microscale includes elements such as the quality of the sidewalks, intersections, lighting, vegetation, among others. The characteristics of these elements can influence walking behaviors and vary according to the socioeconomic levels of the territory. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between walkability in the microscale and the movement of pedestrians, considering socioeconomic differences in Cambé-PR, meeting the need for the study of the microscale in medium-sized cities. For this, the MAPS-Global tool was applied through Google Street View to 635 road segments selected at random in 26 census sectors. After the survey, the data were systematized, indicating a score on the walkability level of the segments. Finally, clusters were analyzed to verify the relationship between walkability on the microscale, income by sector and walking levels, obtained through the Cambé-PR Mobility Plan. It was possible to identify that high-income regions and regions most walked by pedestrians are hose with the highest average overall walking scores in their segments. Such results contribute to the Brazilian context on walkability at the microscale, considering the inherent social variations of the urban space.

Keywords: Built Environment, Walking, Urban Planning.