EFFECTS OF THE URBAN FORM ON PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN SOUTHERN CHILE

The aim of this article is to evaluate the effects of the urban form on pedestrian accessibility in two neighborhoods in transformation in the Teja Island district, in the city of Valdivia, Chile. The methodology integrates three evaluation methods: the Morpho method to explore the morphological conditions that influence walkability; the method developed by Emily Talen to measure the walking distance to local services and facilities; and the People Following method, from the Space Syntax theory, which is used to assess the distance a person walks between their points of interests and the choice of routes. Results show that factors that promote walkability in the neighborhoods evaluated are net dwelling density, diversity of uses, wide size of sidewalks, frontyards, and the presence of trees areas. On the contrary, factors that inhibit the choice of routes are blind walls, poor quality of side walks and the absence of greening in streets. These results suggest that the choice of routes that people take to reach a destination is not defined by the shortest route, but rather by its spatial quality. The article concludes with recommendations for the urban design of neighborhoods with a greater walkable orientation, and their impact to address a positive transformation of these cities towards a more sustainable future.