How Metros’ Catchment Area Affect Commuters Choice To Walk Or Use Feeder Modes?

The current research measures the impact of built environment parameters on the choice of access modes, specifically distinguishing between walking and feeder modes. A total of 600 responses were gathered from individuals within the catchment areas of 15 Delhi Metro stations, India to evaluate the commuters’ perceptions regarding the walk access environment and the service quality of feeder modes. Initially, structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate latent constructs related to walking. Subsequently, two mode choice models were examined: a basic model and an extended model. 'Comfort' and 'safety-security' exhibited negative associations with walking, indicating that individuals felt more comfortable and secure when using feeder modes rather than walking. Mesoscale built-environment factors were observed to positively impact walk-access to metro stations. Furthermore, variables such as path distance, gender, education levels, and monthly income were identified as having an adverse effect on walking as a mode of access to metro stations. The study's outcomes provide valuable insights for policy development to enhance walking in the catchment areas around metro stations, fostering a seamless and user-friendly built environment conducive to walking towards the metro.