The effect of urban vegetation and traffic intensity on walking speed

In two experiments participants were asked to walk inside the city Hradec Králové along a track, which consisted of streets with various amounts of vegetation and various degrees of traffic intensity. The walking speed was measured in eight selected sections. The environmental properties of the sections were estimated by raters, who described a level of naturalness of a place, intensity of traffic, noise, as well as emotional reactions in particular sections. Participants tended to walk slightly faster in sections without greenery and with a higher level of traffic than in sections with greenery and with a small level of traffic. Further, it was found that the sections, where participants walked slower, elicited more positive emotions than areas were participants walked faster. The results are discussed in terms of approach and avoidance behaviour (Mehrabian and Russel, 1974). Key-Words: Pace of pedestrian walk, Urban nature, Approach and avoidance behavior.