Assessment of the Walkability of Bushehr Neighborhoods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant professor of urban planning, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

2 Urban Planning Department, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

The Industrial Revolution and the increasing dominance of automobiles over cities have led to the decline of the presence of pedestrians in cities. On the other hand, the growing population of cities and the increasing share of roadways in the city structure have created numerous problems for cities. In contemporary Iranian urbanization, the needs and natural rights of pedestrians have received less attention from urban planners and designers, and pedestrian walkways are not considered as an independent part of urban space but rather as a function of pedestrian movement, which has caused numerous traffic, environmental, social, etc. problems in cities. This study evaluates the walkability in Bushehr's modern and historical neighborhoods. Therefore, the neighborhoods of Kuti, Dehdashti, Shanbedi, and Behbahani from the historic neighborhoods and Sangi, Ashouri, Bagh Zahra, and Bisim from the modern neighborhoods have been selected. To assess the walkability status in these neighborhoods, 160 questionnaires were distributed among the residents, and the data from the questionnaires were analyzed using an independent t-test and exploratory factor analysis. The t-test results show no significant difference between the historic and modern neighborhoods regarding walkability, and there is only a difference in the green space index on the sidewalk. Finally, based on the extracted factors of the six exploratory factor analysis, urban design strategies and policies have been presented to promote walkability in the neighborhoods of Bushehr.

Highlights

  • There is no significant difference in walkability between Bushehr's historic and modern neighborhoods.
  • The only notable difference between these neighborhoods lies in the green space index.
  • Accessibility, environmental factors, transportation sustainability, safety and security, efficiency, and vitality are crucial to walkability.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Urban Design Studies
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
January 2025
Pages 81-100

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 09 October 2024
  • Accept Date: 31 October 2024
  • First Publish Date: 19 January 2025
  • Publish Date: 19 January 2025

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