Trips to Strips: Walking and Site Design in Suburban Multifamily Housing
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Date
2013
Authors
Larco, Nico
Stockard, Jean
Steiner, Bethany
West, Amanda
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
With over nine million units in the country, suburban multifamily housing
is a widespread and overlooked example of density located within walking distance of
commercial development in suburbia. This paper reports on resident demographics,
attitudes, and perceptions as they relate to mode choice in 14 suburban multifamily sites in
Eugene, Oregon. Through site analysis and resident surveys, this study shows that
residents of well-connected suburban multifamily housing developments walk or bike for
nearly half of their trips to the local commercial area (LCA). In addition, residents of wellconnected
multifamily developments reported walking to their LCA 60% more (one more
trip per week) than residents of less-connected developments who took a similar number
of total trips. Quantifying the degree to which site design, and specifically connectivity,
makes a difference in residents’ mode choice is a first step towards increasing the
amount of active transportation in these areas. The results of this research provide
planners and designers a basis for re-evaluating suburban multifamily site design and
zoning codes.
Description
24 pages
Keywords
Connectivity, Active Transportation, Planning and Design
Citation
Larco, N., Stockard, J., Steiner, B., & West, A. (2013). Trips to Strips: Walking and Site Design in Suburban Multifamily Housing. Journal of Urban Design, 18(2), 281—303. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2013.772886