Estimating a Toronto Pedestrian Route Choice Model using Smartphone GPS Data: It's Not the Destination, but the Journey, that Matters

Abstract

City planning has an emphasis on working towards creating walkable cities with boulevards, wide sidewalks, and social spaces. This study uses revealed preference GPS data collected through a smartphone-based travel survey and discrete choice modelling techniques to determine pedestriansâ preferences towards street infrastructure, built environment, and land use. A path size logit model with stochastic route choice generation choice set was used for this model. The results of the model showed that distance, the number of turns, the number of signalized intersections, and distance along links with sidewalks on both sides of the street were significant variables in the route choice model. Turns are found to be equivalent to an additional 32m, signalized intersections are equivalent to a reduction of 34m, and travel along streets with sidewalks on both sides of the road is perceived as 33% shorter than streets with other sidewalk conditions.