Trips to Strips: Walking and Site Design in Suburban Multifamily Housing

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.