WALKABILITY OF URBAN SPACE

Walking as the basic, cheapest and the most affordable way of transportation and recreation is a significant means of experiencing a city. Walkability of a city is a measure of how friendly, safe and attractive a city is to walk within it. City center is considered as the most significant part of a city and as the most important signifier of a city and its citizen¿s collective identity and where many social, political and many other important urban activities take place.During the recent decades, due to excessive usage of automobiles and car-oriented policies the city center has lost its original functionality and walkability not only in many metropolises but also in some smaller towns. A wide range of factors influencing walkability of an urban space is developed in this study. These factors are classified into four main groups: lifestyle factors, locational factors, urban design factors and personal/behavioral factors. Each of these groups have inclusive subcategories by which walkability of a street or an urban space can be evaluated elaborately.