Work

Citizen Perception and Acceptance of Urban Pedestrianization: An Exploratory Case Study Analysis in the City of Loja, Ecuador

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Urban pedestrianization has become a widely adopted strategy to promote sustainable mobility, improve urban livability, and enhance the quality of public space. Despite its potential benefits, pedestrianization interventions often generate heterogeneous perceptions among different user groups, which may influence their long-term acceptance. This study analyzes citizen perceptions of an urban pedestrianization intervention implemented in the city of Loja, Ecuador, considering residents, business owners or employees, and pedestrians or visitors. A structured survey was conducted, and the collected data were analyzed using exploratory analytical techniques, including rescaled single-item indices, user segmentation, and Spearman correlation analysis to identify patterns and relationships among variables. The results reveal significant associations between socio-demographic characteristics, user type, and acceptance of permanent pedestrianization, as well as differentiated patterns of urban experience. These findings provide empirical evidence to support decision-making in urban mobility policies and contribute to the academic discussion on pedestrianization in intermediate Latin American cities.

Source: Urban Science

DOI: 10.3390/urbansci10040179

Authors: Yasmany García-Ramírez, Soledad Segarra-Morales, Juan Pablo Diaz-Samaniego

Institutions: Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Universidad de los Hemisferios

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930