Abstract

Cities are recognized globally as centers of physical, social, and economic development, and one of the responsibilities of contemporary societies is to create sustainable cities, especially in terms of social issues. City design must be such that all segments of society, regardless of age, gender, and physical abilities, feel comfortable and secure. Public spaces, particularly streets, play a crucial role in this regard and must be designed to facilitate social activities and interactions. The built environment or architectural environment is also highly important, and the quality of the physical environment must be improved with the aim of increasing the desirability of spaces for work and life. Walking as the most fundamental mode of public transportation provides individuals with a comprehensive experience of the urban environment and contributes to the formation of local communities and the prosperity of the urban economy. In street design, walking must be prioritized, and a safe space must be provided for all users. Speed limits and reduced traffic congestion are among the policies that can encourage people to walk and cycle. Moreover, social interactions in public spaces are highly important, and pedestrian spaces can provide opportunities for social and cultural interactions. These interactions are possible in a supportive environment that meets the physiological needs of individuals and contribute to the strengthening of social and cultural foundations. In this regard, the main objective of this article is to identify the effective indicators of the physical environment quality of streets and their impact on increasing the level of walking and social interactions. The research method used in this study is based on the interpretive paradigm, employing qualitative research through the Arksey and O'Malley scoping review framework. This approach is utilized to create and extract a common reference framework based on the results of previous studies. Data were collected using a documentary method and note-taking from published sources. The scoping review process enables the researcher to first identify the research questions and then engage in searching, selecting, evaluating, summarizing, and synthesizing evidence to address the posed questions. In this research, an effort has been made to address the posed questions by thoroughly examining existing studies based on the scoping review method. Given the discussions in the theoretical framework and selected studies, the aim has been to identify and extract the indicators affecting social interactions, walking, and the physical environment. Initially, the relevant codes were extracted, and then each code was categorized based on its meaning into corresponding groups. After obtaining results and classifying the indicators, the influential indicators were identified as follows: Social Interactions: including spatial performance and social performance, Walking: including the quantity of walking, Physical Environment: including aesthetics and attractiveness, readability and accessibility, traffic safety and security, connectivity and continuity of pathways, and pedestrian infrastructure.Attention to all components in parallel is of great importance. The objective of this work is to create a foundation for a comprehensive and new interpretation of the findings in subsequent stages. This research emphasizes the importance of urban design and the quality of the physical environment of streets, demonstrating that these factors directly influence the increase in walking levels and social interactions. Furthermore, the focus on walking as the most fundamental mode of public transportation highlights its impact on the formation of local communities and the flourishing of urban economies, underscoring the necessity of implementing encouraging policies such as speed limits and reducing traffic congestion. By identifying and classifying influential indicators, including social interactions, spatial performance, aesthetics and attractiveness, traffic safety and security, and pedestrian infrastructure, better urban design can be achieved that considers the needs of all segments of society. Ultimately, this research aims to enhance social and cultural interactions in public spaces and stresses the need to create supportive environments that meet individuals' physiological needs.These findings can serve as a foundation for the development and improvement of sustainable urban design and the enhancement of quality of life in cities. Finally, based on the identified indicators, recommendations have been made to increase walking levels and social interactions.