Developing the Critical Criteria for Improving the Walkability for Promoting the Social Sustainability of Neighborhoods, the case of Chizar, Tehran, Iran

Walkability of neighborhood is perhaps the most important factor in different patterns of neighborhood development including sustainable regional development, modernism, smartly controlled-growth and public transportation. Without any doubt, the influences of walkability on improving physical and psychological health, and the civic and social life, lead to social sustainability of neighborhoods. Exploring the concepts of sustainability shows that improving the quality of life in order to increase the presence and social and optional activities of people is one of the main strategies of achieving social sustainability. Creating places and making sense of belonging are two main criteria for sustainable neighborhoods. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to investigate the critical criteria for improving walkability of neighborhoods, which lead to social sustainability of neighborhoods. Hence, this article attempts to define the concepts of sustainable neighborhoods and the approach to social sustainability. This study further specifies the critical criteria, which improve the presence and activities of pedestrians. For evaluating the primary model and defining the critical factors, the researchers extend the hypotheses to Chizar neighborhood as the case under study. To this end, the questionnaire was administered to 180 citizens in Chizar. The data, analyzed through correlation, shows that from user's viewpoint, physical criteria such as good design, aesthetical dimensions, path facilities, quality of sidewalks, as well as contextual criteria such as socio-cultural norms influence the presence and social activities of pedestrians.