Attitudes, perceptions, and walking behavior in a Chinese city

Introduction: An increasing number of studies discuss the relationship of walking with attitudes and perceptions. However, the findings are not consistent, and few studies have examined the relationship between walking and attitudes to overall mobility and multiple modes. In this paper, we contribute to these debates by exploring the relationship between walking for transport and broad attitudes to urban mobility and transport modes. Methods: Using a clustered random sample survey conducted in a second-tier city in China (N = 1048), we hypothesized that people with different attitudes have different amounts of walking for transport. Data analysis methods involved descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), hierarchical logistic models, and hierarchical linear models. Results: Positive attitudes and perceptions regarding multiple transport modes and related environments were associated with some walking for transport. T-tests indicated that those with different attitudes walked different amounts. Regression models showed that associations between attitudes and odds of people walking varied between genders. Males who perceived bus frequency was not a problem were more likely to walk. Females tended to walk when viewing transportation in the city as convenient. Both findings contribute to the understanding that positive perceptions of overall mobility in the city were associated with higher odds of walking. Meanwhile, among those who did walk, those with positive attitudes towards pedestrian safety crossing streets and those perceiving traffic jams as a problem in their daily trips spent more time walking. Conclusion: This paper concludes that positive broad attitudes and perceptions of overall mobility and all transport modes are related to more walking activities. A better understanding of such relationships can provide a reference point for urban policies aiming at promoting walking for transport