Walking in São Paulo: a survey on Mobility on Foot and Fruition

Abstract

The objective of this research is to investigate walking from two perspectives: the perspective of mobility and the perspective of aesthetics — the enjoyment of the city — analyzing the relation between the built environment and the personal daily experience of persons on foot. In São Paulo, our case study, there exists a clear paradox: despite the fact that walking is the most important means of transportation, the urban settings present a very challenging situation for the pedestrian —inadequate or nonexistent sidewalks, risky crossings and vulnerable conditions in the face of motor vehicles. Methodologically, the survey was based on a qualitative research conducted specifically for the author´s thesis, bringing together in a series of focus groups a sample of pedestrians who walk regularly in their daily affairs. The results have shown that, given minimum conditions of safety and infrastructure, a sense of enjoyment is often present while walking, and it is expressed in physical pleasure, in “experiencing the city” and the hidden surprises it can reveal — unexpected encounters, findings, and places.