Pedestrian accessibility in 15-minute cities: A systematic review of measurement methodologies and perceptible aspects

Abstract

The 15-minute city concept, which promotes urban liveability by ensuring that essential services are accessible within a short walking distance, has gained global attention as a sustainable alternative to car-dependent urban sprawl. While existing accessibility studies predominantly rely on map-based methods and non-pedestrian-focused mobility assessments, significant gaps remain in understanding pedestrian accessibility from a perceptual and experiential standpoint. This study addresses these gaps through a systematic review of 53 scholarly articles sourced from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, critically examining the methodologies, metrics, techniques, and data inputs used to assess pedestrian accessibility in 15-minute city models. The review particularly focuses on data acquisition, tool digitalization, and methodological refinement. Findings highlight global trends in the implementation of pedestrian accessibility assessment, revealing variations in demographic representation, data diversity, and scale of analysis. The results show a strong reliance on geospatial data-driven approaches but a limited incorporation of perceived urban attributes, such as visual environments, travel impedance, and street-level experiences, in pedestrian-focused accessibility models. Furthermore, the study underscores the potential of integrating perceptual indicators into accessibility assessments to bridge the gap between urban infrastructure and pedestrian experience. By synthesizing advancements in data-driven urban analytics, this review contributes to the refinement of pedestrian accessibility measurement frameworks, advocating for more inclusive, perception-based urban planning strategies.