Abstract

Background and Purpose: Streets are recognized as vital public spaces that play a basic role in shaping social, economic, and cultural life. Beyond transportation corridors or venues for physical exercise, streets function as dynamic social arenas that foster interpersonal interactions, strengthen community bonds, and cultivate a sense of belonging among city residents. Walking along urban streets contributes to physical and mental well-being, enhances social cohesion, and supports local economic vitality. Many urban streets lack the essential physical qualities required to encourage walking and social engagement, which undermines their potential as vibrant public spaces. The primary objective of this research is to identify the physical indicators that effectively promote walking and social interactions on urban streets and to propose practical solutions for improving their physical structure. By addressing these issues, the study aims to provide urban planners, designers, and policymakers with evidence-based guidelines to enhance street environments, improving overall urban quality of life. The central research questions guiding this study are: Which physical indicators significantly influence the increase of walking and social interactions on urban streets? What are the most effective strategies to improve the physical structure of streets to support these outcomes?
Methodology: This qualitative study employs a meta-analytic approach to review and synthesize findings from prior research systematically. The population of interest includes scientific articles and research papers on walking, social interactions, and physical indicators of urban streets, published between 2011 and 2024. Purposeful sampling was conducted based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the selection of high-quality studies. Data collection involved a thorough examination of documents and scientific texts, which were subsequently coded and categorized using content analysis techniques. Searches were conducted across reputable domestic and international databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Magiran, using keywords including "physical environment," "walking," and "social interactions." The selection process was guided by ten quality indicators, including clarity of research objectives, methodological rigor, accuracy of data analysis, and research significance. Ultimately, 44 high-quality sources were selected for meta-analysis.
Findings and Discussion: The meta-analysis reveals that multiple physical indicators substantially influence walking and social interactions on urban streets. The key indicators identified are: Legibility and Accessibility; Land Use Diversity; Sidewalk Quality; Aesthetics; Order and Cleanliness. These findings are consistent with previous literature and underscore the pivotal role of physical street design in fostering active and socially vibrant urban environments. The interplay among these indicators creates a synergistic effect, amplifying their impacts on pedestrian behavior and social life. These findings are consistent with the existing literature and emphasize the pivotal role of physical street design in creating active and vibrant urban environments. The interaction among these indicators produces a synergistic effect that amplifies their impacts on pedestrian behavior and social life.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that physical street environment indicators play a key role in encouraging people to walk more and increasing opportunities for social interactions. The indicators include the beauty and attractiveness of the space, traffic safety and security, accessibility and legibility of pathways, and connectivity and continuity of routes, which directly or indirectly influence each other. Improving these key components can enhance the quality of the urban environment, promote individuals’ physical and mental health, and contribute to sustainable urban development as well as the overall improvement of citizens’ quality of life. Furthermore, this study emphasizes that street design should ensure that all segments of society, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability, feel comfortable and safe, enabling them to easily access public spaces and engage in social interactions. Finally, it is recommended that urban designers and planners prioritize these physical environment indicators in the design and improvement of urban streets. Specific strategies include the following: The design of wide, comfortable, and accessible sidewalks furnished with suitable street furniture and shading elements to increase pedestrian; Encouraging mixed land uses along the streets to increase diversity, attract different user groups, and maintain street vitality throughout the day; Enhancing safety through improved lighting, increased presence of security personnel, and traffic calming measures to create safe environments for all users; The inclusion of green spaces, landscaping, and aesthetically pleasing architectural features to establish enjoyable and visually attractive street environments; Incorporating green spaces, landscaping, and attractive architectural elements to create pleasant and appealing streetscapes; and improving legibility through clear signage and wayfinding systems to facilitate navigation and accessibility.