Briefing: User-perspectives on walkable neighbourhoods

Pedestrian-oriented and mixed-use neighbourhoods enable residents to interact with each other while walking and therefore enhance the frequency of contact. It is widely accepted that people living in walkable neighbourhoods are more likely to have a higher level of social capital and tend to live longer and healthier lives than those living in car-dependent neighbourhoods. However, there is an ongoing debate surrounding the underlying principles of walkable neighbourhoods that encourage and support walking by diverse user-groups. This article attempts to collate the evidence and investigate the association between walkable neighbourhoods and social capital. The findings suggest that the social and physical contexts of the walkable neighbourhood enhance casual interactions and social participations and are likely to contribute to the formation of social capital over a period of time.