Walking behavior in the old downtown Beijing: The impact of perceptions and attitudes and social variations

Abstract Walkable neighborhoods are promoted by urban planners and public health scholars as a way to encourage physical activity. This study explores the impact of perceptions and attitudes on walking in the historical neighborhood in downtown Beijing. It also examines how socioeconomic variations affect perceptions and attitudes. The study found that residents’ perceptions and attitudes toward their built and social environment vary according to income, age, and employment status, and that they have significant effects on walking frequency. Sense of community was negatively correlated with recreational walking and positively correlated with walking as a means of transportation. Favorable perceptions of the built environment and community participation both had a positive effect on recreational walking. Perceived health also influenced walking behavior. Younger, employed, and higher-income people were found to walk less than their counterparts. To promote a walkable and healthy community, city design factors and various strategies aimed at enhancing social cohesion among mixed socioeconomic groups should be taken into account.