Perspective of senior citizens regarding intersectional equity on walkability

Abstract

With the current trend of exploring walkability measures using objective approach, it is essential not to overlook subjective perspectives. Intersectionality examines how heterogenous members of a specific group might have different experiences depending on several aspects of their identities, including gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, and other social factors. This study explores the influence of age on walkability perceptions, revealing that senior citizens have distinct perspectives on this matter compared to the average population. The study involved 392 senior citizens who rated various variables affecting their walkability. These ratings were then analyzed using Random Forest Classifier to identify key variables that predict their willingness to walk. The findings indicate that walkability is positively associated with senior citizens' willingness to walk when certain variables are present, such as adequate lighting, evenness of pedestrian walks, short travel time to recreational facilities, availability of benches or resting spaces, the presence of family or friends during walks, the presence of security officers, availability of pedestrian walks, and the availability of social activities and gatherings. This study contributes to the understanding of intersectional equity in pedestrian facilities and provides considerations to its future development by including the perspective of senior age individuals.