Investigation of Walking Behaviours in Terms of Physical Activity: Gölbaşı District, Kızılcaşar Neighbourhood

Abstract

Physical activities such as walking have numerous health benefits proven by various studies. In this context, urban design projects should include implementations aimed at encouraging people to walk, and these projects should also be created considering the residents' demographic characteristics. This study aimed to determine the built environment features that affected individuals' walking frequency and duration while also looking into the impact of personal factors on walking behaviours. The study examined sample studies evaluating the importance of environmental and individual characteristics on walking behaviours, and a questionnaire was designed in line with the results obtained. The questionnaire was conducted with a total of 400 neighbourhood residents, consisting of adult women and men, living in the Kızılcaşar neighbourhood of the Gölbaşı district located in Ankara. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analysed with descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA, and Regression analysis. As a result of the analyses, environmental characteristics such as safety, landscape density, flat terrain and comfort, and visual diversity had significant relationships with the participants' walking frequency and duration. Additionally, the study confirmed that personal factors like gender, income and educational status impact individuals' walking frequency and duration.