The Social Qualities of Being on Foot: A Theoretical Analysis of Pedestrian Activity, Community, and Culture

This article presents a theoretical framework for explaining how pedestrian activity broadens people's access to cultural meaning‐making processes. A lack of vital pedestrian activity constitutes a social problem because of lost opportunities for social interaction. According to a theory of the micro‐level production of culture, “Epistemological Culture Theory,” collaborative self‐expression in the course of interaction with others is essential for developing shared meanings (i.e., culture), a sense of community, and a sense of security in what we know. A review of urban planning and environmental psychology research on pedestrian environments finds significant appreciation for conditions conducive to such collaborative self‐expression. This literature presents a highly developed environmental (or technological) determinist perspective. This article complements previous research by focusing on the cultural significance of being on foot. Four concepts are introduced to help enrich the discussion: “breadth of experience,”“pausability,”“identity expression,” and “collaborative creativity.” These concepts enable a better understanding of how pedestrian activity facilitates interaction. This exploration posits principles and raises questions about how these qualities may be sought out or even avoided in personal and cultural preferences regarding transportation and public life.