The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on Walkability

Parking lots are surprisingly understudied in walkability research. Using an audit, this article examines how parking lots impact walkability at care destinations in Hamilton, Ontario. Parking lots are found to negatively - and substantially - impact walkability; their objective walkability score is...

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Main Authors: Isla Leadbetter, Angel Emmanuel Hernandez Cruz, Léa Ravensbergen, Anastasia Soukhov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Findings Press 2024-12-01
Series:Findings
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.127106
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author Isla Leadbetter
Angel Emmanuel Hernandez Cruz
Léa Ravensbergen
Anastasia Soukhov
author_facet Isla Leadbetter
Angel Emmanuel Hernandez Cruz
Léa Ravensbergen
Anastasia Soukhov
author_sort Isla Leadbetter
collection DOAJ
description Parking lots are surprisingly understudied in walkability research. Using an audit, this article examines how parking lots impact walkability at care destinations in Hamilton, Ontario. Parking lots are found to negatively - and substantially - impact walkability; their objective walkability score is half that of other road segments and 3.5 times lower than pedestrian and bicycle streets. Correlation analysis suggests low scores are related to parking lot’s frequent absence of walkable features, such as pedestrian facilities and traffic control elements. Removing parking lots would increase urban walkability. When this is not feasible, incorporating design elements can improve parking lot walkability.
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spelling doaj-art-b749a0b78efe4b69988b2f33ee35582f2025-08-20T02:36:39ZengFindings PressFindings2652-88002024-12-0110.32866/001c.127106The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on WalkabilityIsla LeadbetterAngel Emmanuel Hernandez CruzLéa RavensbergenAnastasia SoukhovParking lots are surprisingly understudied in walkability research. Using an audit, this article examines how parking lots impact walkability at care destinations in Hamilton, Ontario. Parking lots are found to negatively - and substantially - impact walkability; their objective walkability score is half that of other road segments and 3.5 times lower than pedestrian and bicycle streets. Correlation analysis suggests low scores are related to parking lot’s frequent absence of walkable features, such as pedestrian facilities and traffic control elements. Removing parking lots would increase urban walkability. When this is not feasible, incorporating design elements can improve parking lot walkability.https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.127106
spellingShingle Isla Leadbetter
Angel Emmanuel Hernandez Cruz
Léa Ravensbergen
Anastasia Soukhov
The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on Walkability
Findings
title The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on Walkability
title_full The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on Walkability
title_fullStr The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on Walkability
title_full_unstemmed The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on Walkability
title_short The Negative Impact of Parking Lots on Walkability
title_sort negative impact of parking lots on walkability
url https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.127106
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