Two cultures of walking: a human-scale comparison of pedestrian behaviours in Hong Kong and San Francisco
Abstract
This study compares pedestrian behaviours in station areas of Hong Kong and San Francisco to explore how culture and urban design shape human-environment interactions. With field observation, multisensory and video data from 283 street intersections, the study evaluates pedestrian utilization of dedicated space and signal timing, walking speeds, and rule violations. It finds that despite the observed differences in infrastructure design and policy contexts, pedestrians exhibit similar behaviours under comparable conditions of perceived risk and right-of-way. The study contributes to a global discussion on context-sensitive street design and sustainable transportation planning across cultures.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Urban Transport and Accessibility
Evacuation and Crowd Dynamics
Urban Design and Spatial Analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Urban Design
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 769–787
- Publication date
- 30 January 2026
- Language
- EN