Understanding the relationship between urban design and walking to inform sustainable urban development: a case study of Hanoi

Abstract

Background Walking is increasingly seen as a crucial instrument in promoting sustainability all over the world due to its various benefits to the health and well-being of urban citizens as well as the environment and the economy of the cities. A growing body of evidence in the literature, mostly from Western countries, shows that urban design largely influences the prevalence of walking in urban environments. However, there is a limited number of studies on the relationship between walking and urban design from low- and middle-income countries in Asia, where urban forms are traditionally more compact, complex and with multiple layers and varied urban typologies. Due to the advent of rapid m..