PhD student Donghwan Ki and Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning Zhenhua Chen have published “Walkability inequity in Los Angeles: Uncovering the overlooked role of micro-level features” in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. 

This article seeks to provide a comprehensive examination of walkability inequity in Los Angeles. 

Numerous studies have explored the equity of walkability; however, most research has mainly focused on macro-level features of built environments, such as accessibility, neglecting the crucial role played by micro-level features, including street greenery and sidewalks. To bridge this research gap, this study presents a comprehensive examination of walkability inequity in Los Angeles, from both macro and micro perspectives. We investigate the spatial distribution of various minority groups in relation to walkability indices at both macro- and micro-levels. The assessment of micro-level features incorporates the utilization of Google Street View and computer vision algorithms. Our findings reveal significant variations in the distribution and degree of inequity based on the definition of walkability. While macro-level features in minority neighborhoods may promote walking, subpar micro-level features impede walking activity, indicating that disadvantaged neighborhoods may be less conducive to walking than macro-level indices suggest.

Read more at Transportation Research Part D: Transportation and Environment