Walking audit
Encyclopedia
A walking audit is an assessment of the walkability
or pedestrian
access of an external environment. Walking audits are often undertaken in street
environments to consider and promote the needs of pedestrians as a form of transport. They can be undertaken by a range of different stakeholders including:
Walking audits often collect both quantitative
and qualitative data on the walking environment.
PERS is “a systematic process to assess the pedestrian environment within a framework that promotes objectivity”. The environment is reviewed from the end user perspective of a vulnerable pedestrian. PERS consists of:
A PERS walking audit collects both quantitative
and qualitative data on six types of facility in the street environment:
Each facility is rated on a seven point scale (-3 to +3) for different parameters such as effective width, dropped kerbs, permeability
or personal security. PERS also rates disabled peoples access. These PERS ratings are linked to Red/Amber/Green (RAG) colour coding. The PERS software allows users to analyse and display walkability data using GIS maps, charts and quick win recommendation lists.
PERS was originally developed in 2001 by TRL
and London Borough of Bromley
. The software tool (PERS 1) was designed to allow transport professionals and community groups to quickly and cost-effectively assess and rate the walkability of local streets and recommend improvements for pedestrians. This version of the tool assessed Links, Crossings and Routes. In 2005 Transport for London
and TRL co-developed PERS 2 which expanded the original system to include Public Transport Waiting Areas (PTWA), Public Spaces and Interchange Spaces. In 2009 ransport for London and TRL further developed the tool into PERS 3 which included a built in GIS mapping tool and the ability to add photographs and georeference
s of quick wins (low cost, easy to implement physical improvements). PERS 3 also has the added functionality of automatically generate quick-win recommendation work lists for Highway work crews.
The PERS tool has been used by organisations all over the world and has been used extensively in London to assess over 200 km of the street network.
(CABE) have used the PERS walking audit method to show:
"how we can calculate the extra financial value that good street design contributes, over average or poor design".
The study found a direct link between an increase in PERS scores (and therefore an increase in the quality of a street for pedestrians) and residential house prices. The study demonstrates how PERS can be used to show how:
"clear financial benefits can be calculated from investing in better quality street design".
Walkability
Walkability is a measure of how friendly an area is to walking. Walkability has many health, environmental, and economic benefits. Factors influencing walkability include the presence or absence and quality of footpaths, sidewalks or other pedestrian right-of-ways, traffic and road conditions,...
or pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
access of an external environment. Walking audits are often undertaken in street
Street
A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable...
environments to consider and promote the needs of pedestrians as a form of transport. They can be undertaken by a range of different stakeholders including:
- Local community groups
- Transport planners / engineers
- Urban designers
- Local police officers
- Local politicians / councilors
Walking audits often collect both quantitative
Quantitative
A quantitative property is one that exists in a range of magnitudes, and can therefore be measured with a number. Measurements of any particular quantitative property are expressed as a specific quantity, referred to as a unit, multiplied by a number. Examples of physical quantities are distance,...
and qualitative data on the walking environment.
Pedestrian Environment Review System
The Pedestrian Environment Review System (PERS) is the most developed and widely used walking audit tool available.PERS is “a systematic process to assess the pedestrian environment within a framework that promotes objectivity”. The environment is reviewed from the end user perspective of a vulnerable pedestrian. PERS consists of:
- An on-street audit process
- A GIS software package to consolidate, map and display results
A PERS walking audit collects both quantitative
Quantitative
A quantitative property is one that exists in a range of magnitudes, and can therefore be measured with a number. Measurements of any particular quantitative property are expressed as a specific quantity, referred to as a unit, multiplied by a number. Examples of physical quantities are distance,...
and qualitative data on six types of facility in the street environment:
- Links (footways, footbridges, subways)
- Crossings
- Routes
- Public Transport Waiting Areas (bus stops, tram stops, taxi ranks)
- Public Spaces (parks and squares)
- Interchange Spaces (between different modes of transport)
Each facility is rated on a seven point scale (-3 to +3) for different parameters such as effective width, dropped kerbs, permeability
Permeability (spatial and transport planning)
Permeability or connectivity describes the extent to which urban forms permit movement of people or vehicles in different directions. The terms are often used interchangeably, although differentiated definitions also exist...
or personal security. PERS also rates disabled peoples access. These PERS ratings are linked to Red/Amber/Green (RAG) colour coding. The PERS software allows users to analyse and display walkability data using GIS maps, charts and quick win recommendation lists.
PERS was originally developed in 2001 by TRL
Transport Research Laboratory
TRL is a British transport consultancy and research organisation based at Wokingham Berkshire with approximately 500 staff. TRL is owned by the Transport Research Foundation , which is overseen by 80 sector members from the transport industry. TRL also own small UK regional offices situated in...
and London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
. The software tool (PERS 1) was designed to allow transport professionals and community groups to quickly and cost-effectively assess and rate the walkability of local streets and recommend improvements for pedestrians. This version of the tool assessed Links, Crossings and Routes. In 2005 Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
and TRL co-developed PERS 2 which expanded the original system to include Public Transport Waiting Areas (PTWA), Public Spaces and Interchange Spaces. In 2009 ransport for London and TRL further developed the tool into PERS 3 which included a built in GIS mapping tool and the ability to add photographs and georeference
Georeference
To georeference something means to define its existence in physical space. That is, establishing its location in terms of map projections or coordinate systems. The term is used both when establishing the relation between raster or vector images and coordinates, and when determining the spatial...
s of quick wins (low cost, easy to implement physical improvements). PERS 3 also has the added functionality of automatically generate quick-win recommendation work lists for Highway work crews.
The PERS tool has been used by organisations all over the world and has been used extensively in London to assess over 200 km of the street network.
Using walking audits to make a business case
Research undertaken by the Commission for Architecture and the Built EnvironmentCommission for Architecture and the Built Environment
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment was an executive non-departmental public body of the UK government, established in 1999. It was funded by both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Communities and Local Government.-Function:CABE was the...
(CABE) have used the PERS walking audit method to show:
"how we can calculate the extra financial value that good street design contributes, over average or poor design".
The study found a direct link between an increase in PERS scores (and therefore an increase in the quality of a street for pedestrians) and residential house prices. The study demonstrates how PERS can be used to show how:
"clear financial benefits can be calculated from investing in better quality street design".