book

01-intro.Rmd

@@ -15,3 +15,11 @@ This book is a distillation of things I learnt along the way.
 Through qualitative analysis, community engagement, and data-driven approaches such as those discussed here, we can try to gain a deeper understanding of our streets and how they impact individuals from all walks of life.
 
 The methodologies presented in this book are just a starting point - there is still much work to be done!
+
+# Project background {#pb}
+
+This book is the product of my first-hand experience working in the Ejipura ward in Bangalore. At the start of my thesis, I was excited to experiment with QGIS and OpenStreetMap data to create visualizations of Bangalore's roads, streets and bus stops. However, my guide, Lakshmi, encouraged me to take a step back and consider what I was missing. I realized that while analyzing large-scale data was relatively easy, it was important to also consider smaller neighborhoods and the unique factors that contribute to walkability.
+
+![(#fig:ejipura) Buildings of Ejipura.](images/20230322_134155.jpg){width="14cm"}
+
+That's when I decided to use Ejipura as my lab and started exploring what makes a place walkable beyond *conventional* ideas of walkability. Over the next few weeks, I fell in love with the neighborhood's tightly wound lanes, bustling shops, and vibrant buildings. Despite the language barrier, the residents were eager to contribute to my research, and I learned to use their insights to conduct detailed descriptive analyses of the neighborhood. As I delved deeper, I also realized that the issues affecting walkability were complex and intertwined with social identities, accessibility to public transport, and differing impacts on various groups of people. Rather than trying to assign a numerical value to the walkability of the neighborhood, I found more satisfaction in understanding and analyzing the complex factors at play. The rest is covered in the next few dozen pages.

02-structure.Rmd

@@ -37,14 +37,22 @@ But it **won't**:
 ```
 ![](static/people.png){.people .no-border width="14cm" height="4.5cm"}
 
-Little-to-no prior knowledge is required for following the methods discussed in this book. You might be a:
+This book *does assume you have some understanding of walkability audits and assessments*, and what you are looking for is methods to fill gaps in that knowlege. Little-to-no prior knowledge is required for following the methods discussed in this book. You might be a:
 
 1.  Urban planner or designer, for whom this book offers insights on how to assess walkability in Indian cities and neighborhoods.
 
 2.  Community advocate, for whom this book provides a framework for promoting walkable neighborhoods and understanding the factors that make them successful.
 
 3.  A researcher, academic, or student in urban planning, public health, or related fields, for whom this book is a great resource for gaining a comprehensive understanding of walkability and its impact on the people that use them.
 
-This book isn't a dry, technical manual. It's full of real-life case studies and practical techniques that can be used to make cities more walkable. Whether you're a professional or just someone who loves taking a stroll, this book is for you.
+## How to read this book
 
-## How to Read This Book
+Much like The Machete Order, I suggest the following flow to get through this book, which will guide you through the methods and concepts presented in a logical sequence.
+
+1.  **Learn how to understand your site** through the methods described in Section \@ref(secondary-research). This will help you understand important ways to understand the built space.
+2.  **Plan your field visits** or **conduct a preliminary virtual tour** through the methods outlined in Section \@ref(field-visits) and Section \@ref(google-street-view-for-audits).
+3.  **Conduct interviews** and **make comprehensive notes & observations** about the site and its people through the methods in Section \@ref(built-environment-observations), Section \@ref(interview-structure), and Section \@ref(interview-methodology).
+4.  **Delve into quantitative analysis** and learn how to **analyse your qualitative data through visualizations** in Section \@ref(hybrid-assessments), Section \@ref(combining-data), Section \@ref(finding-ways-to-visualize-comfort) and Section \@ref(part-quantitative-assessment-guides).
+5.  **Visualize your results** and presenting findings by looking at examples in Section \@ref(part-visualizing-results).
+
+For any important steps in an analysis process, screenshots and text is presented clearly. References to anything within a software or inside an image is `Formatted like so`. I have done these analyses on a Windows 10 laptop, so if you have any errors specifc to this OS, rest assured they can be searched for on Google. If you are using Mac OS and are unable to troubleshoot an error, I recommend shutting down your laptop and getting a Windows.

03-recommended-softward.Rmd

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Recommended Software & Tools
+# Recommended softwares and tools
 
 I will be using the following to collect data, perform analysis and visualize the results:
 

04-overview.Rmd

@@ -2,7 +2,39 @@
 
 # Walkability
 
-Walkability refers to how friendly an area is for pedestrians. It is a measure of how easy and enjoyable it is to walk in a particular environment. Walkability assessment is a process of evaluating the features of a neighborhood or a city that affect walkability, such as the availability and quality of sidewalks, street connectivity, traffic safety, pedestrian amenities, and land use. Walkability is essential for promoting sustainable transportation, enhancing public health, reducing traffic congestion, and improving the overall quality of life in cities. Assessing walkability involves collecting data about the physical and social characteristics of a place, analyzing the data, and interpreting the results to develop strategies for enhancing walkability.
+Take a moment to consider what comes to mind when you hear the term "walkability." Do you imagine a specific place or think of sidewalks? Perhaps you envision a street without cars. If you're drawing a blank, that's understandable too. Even for those of us who have recently become familiar with the concept, it can be challenging to provide a concise definition, or even consider the idea of there being one strange.
 
-## Recommended Readings
+We often only notice the lack of walkability in a space when it's absent. While significant effort has been dedicated to understanding and designing spaces for motorized vehicles over the last few decades, walkability has only recently become a focus in planning processes.
 
+::: {.cols data-latex=""}
+::: {.col data-latex="{0.55\\textwidth}"}
+![](images/cmp-02.png)
+:::
+
+::: {.col data-latex="{0.05\\textwidth}"}
+  <!-- an empty Div (with a white space), serving as
+a column separator -->
+:::
+
+::: {.col data-latex="{0.4\\textwidth}"}
+Think of your city and how it is designed, can you walk in it without weaving through haphazardly parked cars, broken sidewalks, and other obstacles? Unfortunately, planning for walkable cities has received far less attention, funding, and seriousness than its motorized counterparts. Shown alongside is some data from the '*Comprehensie Mobility Plan for Bengalurur (2020)*' by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport. Pedestrian infrastructure receives the *least* amount of money by a factor of nearly 20 times.
+:::
+:::
+
+> All further augmentation of urban road capacity, be it at-grade or along elevated corridors, should pay particular attention to the equitable allocation of road space, and should prioritise movements of public transport vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. - CMP 2020, *DULT*
+
+This is not unique to Bangalore. Most Indian cities have undergone a rapid urban expansion that has mostly been geared towards cars, resulting in sprawls that are impossible to navigate without them. As a result, we often find ourselves in cities where walking is either inconvenient or downright dangerous, particularly for those with disabilities or who are otherwise marginalized [@ComprehensiveMobilityPlan2020].
+
+![(#fig:kengeri) Without proper footpaths or easy connectivity to less busy roads, pedestrians are left to navigate a busy highway right after they leave the Kengeri metro station.](images/20230210_120025.jpg){width="15cm"}
+
+Over the years, there have been many, many attempts at getting to the root of what making something walkable means.
+
+Research has suggested that a range of factors contribute to walkability, including the presence of sidewalks and crosswalks, street lighting, traffic calming measures, proximity to destinations such as schools and shops, and the overall design and layout of the built environment [@spearsReviewPedestrianTransitOriented2017]. These factors can vary from place to place and even from one street to the next, making it challenging to create a single, definitive definition of walkability. Planners, policymakers, and community activists in India are working together to create spaces in cities that prioritize pedestrians, with more accessible sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, and improved public transportation. These efforts are not only good for public health and the environment but also local economies. Studies have shown that neighborhoods with higher walkability ratings tend to have higher property values and more vibrant local businesses [@Jacobs1961Death2011; @spearsReviewPedestrianTransitOriented2017].
+
+When residents have a better understanding of how their neighborhoods are designed, they are more likely to push for changes that prioritize pedestrians and create more vibrant, walkable spaces. Fortunately, people are taking more interest in reclaiming spaces for pedestrians than ever before.
+
+One way of doing this is through walkability audits. Walkability audits involve evaluating the walking environment using both quantitative and qualitative metrics. This process allows residents and community members to identify problem areas and suggest potential solutions for making their neighborhoods more pedestrian-friendly.
+
+While there is a wealth of data available on walkability at a macro scale, these methods presented in this book allow you to conduct audits at a micro-scale. By collecting data at the street and neighborhood level, you can gain a deeper understanding of how your surroundings impact your walking experience. This approach is especially helpful for identifying areas that need improvement but may have been overlooked in large-scale analyses.
+
+The methods presented in this book aim to provide a toolkit for conducting walkability audits that can be tailored to the specific needs and contexts of different neighborhoods, and hopefully empower individuals and communities to take a closer look at their surroundings

05-types-of-analysis.Rmd

@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
-# Types of Analysis
+# Types of analysis
 
 When assessing the walkability of a neighborhood or a city, it is important to use both quantitative and qualitative analyses.
 
 Quantitative analysis is done with metrics are **objective, measurable characteristics** of a place that can be quantified using numerical data. Examples of quantitative metrics include sidewalk coverage, street connectivity, and pedestrian counts. These metrics are important because **they provide a standardized way of evaluating walkability** and can be used to compare the walkability of different areas.
 
-Qualitative analysis, on the other hand, is done with metrics are **subjective characteristics** of a place that are difficult to measure using numerical data. Examples of qualitative metrics include the aesthetic quality of the environment, social perceptions of safety, and the presence of cultural amenities. These metrics are important because **they capture aspects of the pedestrian experience that are not easily quantifiable**, such as the perceived safety of a neighbourhood or that walking can foster.
+Qualitative analysis, on the other hand, is done with metrics are **subjective characteristics** of a place that are difficult to measure using numerical data. Examples of qualitative metrics include the aesthetic quality of the environment, social perceptions of safety, and the presence of public amenities. These metrics are important because **they capture aspects of the pedestrian experience that are not easily quantifiable**, such as the perceived safety of a neighbourhood or quality of living that being able to walk in it easily can foster.
 
 By using both quantitative and qualitative metrics in walkability assessments, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the walking environment. This book will introduce case-studies to show how these methods can be combined.
 
-## Levels of Analysis {#levels}
+## Levels of analysis {#levels}
 
 To fully understand the walkability of an area, it is essential to examine the neighbourhood at multiple levels and look beyond just the physical environment, such as sidewalks and green spaces, to consider the social interactions and dynamics that shape the experience of walking. For example, we may find that even within a single community, there are divisions based on socioeconomic status or other factors, which could impact the level of access and resources available to different groups of residents and affect their ability to walk and enjoy the neighbourhood.
 
 This approach recognizes that the physical layout of the neighbourhood is just one aspect of what makes it walkable and by looking at the neighbourhood as the sum of its various parts and expanding our understanding of the walking experience, we can gain a more holistic view of the factors contributing to walkability.
 
 In the case of Ejipura, I wanted to see how these various levels could be explored. Figure \@ref(fig:levels) describes this approach. This book describes how to engage in some methods of analysis of each of these levels.
 
-![(#fig:levels)](images/levels.png){width="15cm"}
+![(#fig:levels) Seeing the neighborhood as a sum of its parts.](images/levels.png){width="15cm"}

06-hybrid-assessments.Rmd

@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 Combining qualitative and quantitative data is essential to understand issues as complex as mobility fully. However, analyzing both data types can be challenging, and integrating them into a cohesive analysis is often tricky. Here, hybrid assessments can help bridge the gap between qualitative and quantitative studies.
 
-## Why bother
+## Why do we need them?
 
-In the previous section, we explored various walkability measures, including an area's built and natural environment and other essential aspects. While GIS techniques and macro data sources can provide a baseline understanding of the walkability of a site, they often miss out on the unique issues and experiences that residents face on a day-to-day basis.
+In the next few sections, we will explore various walkability measures, including an area's built and natural environment and other essential aspects. While GIS techniques and macro data sources can provide a baseline understanding of the walkability of a site, they often miss out on the unique issues and experiences that residents face on a day-to-day basis.
 
 In early 2023, [Sensing Local](https://www.sensinglocal.in/), an organization that works on urban and environmental issues in Indian cities, commenced a series of walkability for 24 wards in Bangalore [@byiffathRaisingStreets2022]. As of writing this, more than 139 km of footpaths have been audited in 10 wards has been completed. These audits, using collaborative tools and with the help of community volunteers, mapped various street features, such as footpath conditions, street litter, encroachment, and streetlight presence. Although these are important indicators of the neighbourhoods they visited, there may be other problems that these criteria missed.
 
@@ -16,15 +16,15 @@ To better understand the region, another audit of Bangalore's wards was conducte
 
 This more comprehensive approach not only provides an understanding of the accessibility of various amenities but also includes qualitative data on what the **residents feel is an issue**.
 
-As researchers, we often study areas that we aren't familiar with. Therefore, standardized metrics, such as sidewalk measurements, street lighting, and footpath conditions, are crucial for providing a foundational understanding of the walkability of an area. However, relying solely on these metrics can limit our understanding of residents' unique issues and experiences. Qualitative research can provide valuable insights into the lived experiences of individuals in the community. For example, an on-ground study conducted by community volunteers can reveal micro-scale insights that data analysis using GIS techniques and macro data sources may miss. Section \@ref(interviews-ejipura) shows some unique insights that can be gathered from interviews.
+As researchers, we often study areas that we aren't familiar with. Therefore, standardized metrics, such as sidewalk measurements, street lighting, and footpath conditions, are crucial for providing a foundational understanding of the walkability of an area. However, relying solely on these metrics can limit our understanding of residents' unique issues and experiences. Qualitative research can provide valuable insights into the lived experiences of individuals in the community. For example, an on-ground study conducted by community volunteers can reveal micro-scale insights that data analysis using GIS techniques and macro data sources may miss. Section \@ref(street-comfort-qualitative) shows some unique insights that can be gathered from interviews.
 
-## Grassroots Approach
+## Grassroots approach
 
 We can use a grassroots approach to designing audits to help fill these quantitative research gaps, often created based on standardized metrics.
 
 Grassroots, also known as bottom-top approaches, focus on collecting data from participants locally instead of entirely relying on higher-level data sources. The grassroots process is particularly relevant in fields such as community development, social justice, and public health, where understanding the experiences and needs of the local community is critical to developing effective interventions or policies and can similarly be applied to inform the assessment process, which can ultimately lead to more effective and inclusive solutions [@knapskogExploringWaysMeasuring2019a].
 
-## Differences in Approach
+## Differences in methods
 
 In most of the walkability audits I have encountered, and others have studied, the qualitative features of streets fail to attract the necessary attention and aren't investigated. [@aghaabbasiEvaluatingCapabilityWalkability2018]. Most studies follow the framework shown in Figure \@ref(fig:usual).