Towards a satisfying walking experience: Introducing the PETS conceptual framework for walking satisfaction

A satisfying walking trip not only encourages regular physical activity but also strengthens community bonds, promotes sustainable behaviours, and fosters social equity. Identifying the determinants of walking satisfaction is vital for developing strategies that effective promote walking behaviour. This study employs a mixed-method approach to underpin four key domains: personal attributes, environmental factors, trip characteristics, and sensory inputs (PETS), that shape pedestrian satisfaction. The model was validated through a survey of 730 pedestrians in Shenzhen on three types of walking trips: work/school, leisure/recreation, and household responsibilities. The results reveal nuanced associations between built environment factors and walking satisfaction depending on different trip purposes. Individuals who report a higher sense of meaningfulness, belonging and competence tend to adopt more positive attitudes towards walking, exhibiting a strong correlation between walking satisfaction and attitudes towards walking for leisure/recreation and household responsibility. In high-density urban areas, sensory attributes play a critical role in moderating this relationship. Regression analyses confirmed positive correlations between walking satisfaction and key sensory attributes: quietness, air quality, and smellscape. These findings highlight the complexity and context-specific nature of walking satisfaction, suggesting that urban design and planning should more thoughtfully consider these domains and factors to enhance the walking experience.