Objectives. The present paper investigated environmental factors influencing variations in walking speed in an urban environment. In Study1 participants were asked to walk along a route in the city of Hradec Králové. The aim was to investigate the effect of various layouts of greenery and natural elements on variations in walking speed. In Study 2 participants evaluated a set of photographs taken on the route. The aim was to determine which variables are predictors of preference of particular environment. Next, relations between environmental preferences and variations in walking speed were investigated. Sample and setting. In Study 1 undergraduates (N=106, 53 females, mean age=20.6) were asked to walk around a street circuit located on the edge of the historical area of the city Hradec Králové. The route (length about 2 km) was formed through the streets with a greater range of greenery or with alleys. The route was divided into 11 sections, in which the walking speed was measured. Two directions of the walk on the route were employed: direction A (from section 1 to section 11) and direction B (from section 11 to section 1). Subjects were asked either to walk without any interruption (condition 1) or to stop on marks located prior to the beginning of the measured section (condition 2). In Study 2 undergraduates (N=77, 42 females, mean age=20.7), who took part in Study 1, were invited to evaluate photographs of particular parts of the walking route employed in the first study. Participants were required to evaluate individual sceneries by variables spaciousness, refuge, enclosure, coherence, legibility, complexity, mystery, openness, and amount of natural elements. Next, they were asked to rate their preferences for these sceneries. Hypotheses. It was predicted that preference of an environmental character of a section results in slower walking speed in this section. It was assumed that sections with higher amount of greenery will be preferred most. Statistical analysis. In Study 1 differences of walking speeds in particular sections was analyzed. Repeated ANOVA was used to detect which variables affect walking speed. In Study 2 multiple regressions were carried out to find the contribution of particular variables to the preference of particular scenery. Results. The results revealed consistent patterns of walking speed variations across all conditions. The most conspicuous deceleration of walking speed occurred in the sections, which were formed by a long dense oak alley. The evaluation of photographs showed that these sections had higher amount of perceived coherence, mystery, and natural elements. At the same time, they were the most preferred. Study limitation. The field study conducted in real conditions does not enable full control of all variables, e.g., various short-term weather changes (sunshine, heavy cloud coverage, sudden

Fakulta informatiky a managementu Univerzita Hradec Králové

Analysis of factors affecting variations in walking speed in urban environment with natural elements

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