Is It Really Too Far to Walk? Overestimating Walk Times and Distances Reduces Walking

This study surveyed 1 297 participants at seven locations in New Jersey to examine how perceived distances and walk times influence walking behaviour. Respondents consistently overestimated both distances and travel times, especially in car‑dependent areas, along routes with many turns or barriers, and for nearer destinations. Personal factors such as walking experience and area familiarity lowered estimates, whereas concerns about crime, getting lost, or carrying heavy loads increased them. Crucially, overestimation was linked to a lower likelihood of walking. The authors suggest that wayfinding campaigns clarifying travel times and alleviating fear of getting lost could improve perceptions and encourage walking. The paper also highlights differences between university and town‑center samples, questioning the reliance on student‑only data in prior research.

Supporting evidence

• Sample composition: 1 042 respondents at university sites, 255 at town‑center sites (total 1 297).
• Distance estimation: Actual distances (0.3–1.0 mi, mean 0.65) vs. estimated distances (0.01–12 mi, mean 1.6). Within a ±10 % margin, only 10 % estimated correctly; 73 % overestimated.
• Walk‑time estimation: Actual walk times (6–22 min, mean 13.8) vs. estimated times (2–90 min, mean 14.9). Within a ±10 % margin, 17 % were correct; 41 % overestimated.
• Factors influencing overestimation: Car‑dependent contexts, route complexity (turns/barriers), proximity of destination, low walking experience, unfamiliarity, safety concerns, and load‑carrying worries.

Key findings

1. Systematic overestimation: People tend to overestimate distances (and to a lesser extent times), especially in car‑dominant environments and on complex routes.
2. Behavioural impact: Overestimators are significantly less likely to walk to nearby destinations, reducing pedestrian activity.
3. Wayfinding as a remedy: Clear signage that indicates direction and accurate travel‑time information can counteract overestimation, even in the era of mobile apps.
4. Safety perception matters: Fear of getting lost or crime amplifies perceived distance; targeted wayfinding can alleviate these concerns.
5. Contextual differences: University‑based samples differ from town‑center samples, underscoring the need for diverse participant pools in walking‑behaviour research.