Pedestrian mobility and University campus accessibility: an analysis of student preferences

Prioritizing pedestrian mobility is crucial to foster urban liveability and sustainability, particularly on university campuses that are experienced by students. This paper examines the University of Catania (Italy) campus, a significant open space facing accessibility challenges. Two surveys were conducted within a Living Lab framework to assess student opinions on campus walking experiences and identify key criteria for promoting walking to and within the campus. The Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) algorithm and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were chosen for the analysis, deriving insights for policy-makers and mobility managers to enhance accessibility and encourage active mobility. The specific case study demonstrates the importance of creating pedestrian-friendly environments to foster sustainable lifestyles by addressing accessibility barriers in large open spaces. However, this research provides a wider framework which is applicable to urban planning in similar contexts, emphasizing the pivotal role of pedestrian-centric design in creating vibrant and sustainable university environments.