Temporal variation in walking behavior: An empirical study

Abstract

This study provides a baseline for understanding the variation in walking behavior with respect to seasonal conditions in a hot weather country in the Arabian Gulf region. A busy neighborhood with different land-use patterns in Qatar was observed for the different seasons during the year. Pedestrians’ demographics and walking characteristics were determined and compared across the different seasons. A spatial distribution method was used to analyze and display the distribution of the pedestrian in the neighborhood. A majority of middle-age men were observed walking in the streets of the studied neighborhood. Limited female, old, and young pedestrians were observed. The different seasons highly affected the pedestrian volumes and various walking activities. The summer season showed the lowest pedestrian volumes, and the winter showed the highest. This study highlights the need for different strategies to be adopted throughout the year to promote walking in this region, especially during the summer season. Special strategies should target the female, old, and youth population.