Campus Walkability and Safety Factors Influencing Pedestrian Use

Abstract

This study examined how safety-related features of the built and natural environment affect pedestrian activity on the University of Arizona campus. Thirteen study areas were selected based on a preliminary survey of walking path preferences. Foot traffic was counted at each site, and safety attributes such as shade, tree count, sidewalk width, and proximity to cars or bus stops were recorded. These attributes were combined into a SafetyScore for each area. A regression analysis showed that none of the safety factors were strong predictors of pedestrian use. Percent shaded had the highest R² value at 0.21, while others were much lower. The SafetyScore also showed a weak relationship with foot traffic. These results suggest that other influences not measured in this study may guide where people choose to walk. Improvements such as expanding the study areas, including more safety variables, and conducting follow-up interviews may strengthen future research.