Background and Methods

Relations between pedestrians´ perceptions of traffic variables and appraisals of route environments as hindering – stimulating for walking as well as unsafe – safe for reasons of traffic, were studied in the inner urban area of Stockholm, Sweden (n = 294). The pedestrians used the Active Commuting Route Environment Scale (ACRES). Correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were used to study the relationships between the traffic variables and the outcome variables.

Results

Traffic noise relates negatively to both hindering – stimulating for walking, and to unsafety – safety for traffic reasons. Vehicle speed related negatively to unsafety – safety for traffic reasons. Furthermore, vehicle speed protrudes as an important origin of the deterring effects of traffic among those who commute by foot.

Conclusion

The study shows the value of both partial and simultaneous analyses of the effect of all four traffic variables in relation to outcome variables relevant for walking.