The Moderating Effects of Urban Design on Willingness to Walk in a Tropical City

Walkability and the willingness to walk (WTW) are enhanced with supportive urban design in temperate climate cities. Walking in a tropical city is challenged by the physiological stresses brought on by high air temperature, intense sunlight and humidity but it remains unknown to what extent urban design compensates for these stressors in walking behaviour. In this study, the relative impacts of the walking environment and microclimate on WTW and on walking distance were measured in a field study in Singapore. Participants executed a planned walk and reported assessments of 10 environmental factors, as well as WTW, at assigned locations. Restoration in WTW was observed at certain points on the itinerary across participants, while total voluntary walked distance equalled that of an indoor, air-conditioned walk at the same location. All environmental design variables showed a positive relationship with WTW, but not with objectively measured temperature and humidity. Urban design has a significant impact on willingness to walk in a tropical city.