Redrawing the Planners’ Circle

Problem, research strategy, and findings For decades, planners have been drawing circles of a quarter-mile radius to determine easily walkable distances for neighborhood activity center planning. However, the such “planners’ circles,” or walksheds, is often informed more by convention than data. Here we examine walk-trip based on two national household travel surveys United States Germany. We describe how walk vary personal trip characteristics, with particular focus purpose pedestrian age. conducted both univariate multivariate analyses compare patterns between The analysis examines quantile regressions 50th, 75th, 90th percentiles understand typical longer distances. observed that people significantly across age groups, purposes, contexts. Leisure trips tend be longest, whereas shopping errand shortest. There are substantial differences Germany in average lengths walks (mean/median distance: Germany, 1,490/980 m, 0.93/0.61 miles; States, 970/530 0.60/0.33 miles) effects independent variables. A significant portion variation likely due Germany’s higher quality environments.Takeaway practice Rather always resort 400-m radius, can use data here customize size planners’ circle, walkshed, they draw take into account primary purposes demographic segments under consideration. Moreover, shorter corresponding 50th percentile plan most common while also considering larger 75th provide supportive safer environments trips.