Abstract
Problem Statement:
Walkability is one of the key indicators of urban environmental quality and a prerequisite for achieving a sustainable city. In commercial and administrative fabrics, the dominance of motorized traffic over pedestrian spaces reduces the quality of the walking experience, decreases citizens’ satisfaction, and intensifies conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians—conflicts that constitute a major barrier to urban vitality and public health.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to assess citizens’ satisfaction with walkability and to determine the priority of factors affecting it in the Mir Emad neighborhood of Isfahan, in order to provide a framework for improving the quality of pedestrian spaces and guiding urban planning decisions.
Methodology:
This research is descriptive in nature. Data were collected through 113 valid Likert-scale questionnaires administered to residents, shopkeepers, and pedestrians. The variables examined include safety and security, pavement quality, spatial legibility, land-use diversity, and climatic comfort. Quantitative analyses were conducted using the AdaBoost machine learning algorithm, and qualitative analyses were carried out through an interpretable examination of respondents’ comments.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that the AdaBoost algorithm has a satisfactory ability to explain variations in citizens’ satisfaction (coefficient of determination ≈ 0.71). Reducing motor traffic and improving walkability play the most significant role in increasing citizens’ satisfaction, followed by route safety, sidewalk quality, and nighttime lighting. Therefore, in commercial–administrative contexts, enhancing the quality of pedestrian environments cannot be achieved solely through physical improvements; it also requires sustainable transport policies, traffic management, reduced car use, and the provision of safe pedestrian routes.