Is 23 minutes walking distance?: Factors determining walking time thresholds of Twitter users

Time can be a more practical and informal metric than distance when planning activities, but perceptions of walking duration can vary greatly depending on, for instance, the physical fitness of the individual walking, the topography of the route, or the weather conditions at the time of the walk. This investigation gathers 4,970 Twitter responses to the question, ‘Is 23 minutes walking distance?’, and uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate walking thresholds with four main goals. First, a descriptive overview of responses and analysis of public discussion identifies attitudes, with 63.3% of respondents agreeing that 23 minutes is acceptable. Second, a thematic analysis identifies 27 themes important to walking thresholds within four categories: external (31.4%), circumstantial (32.8%), accessibility (22.0%), and subjective (13.8%). Third, a sentiment analysis using Azure Machine Learning statistically determines and categorizes opinions about a 23-minute walking threshold, confirming agreement (mean=0.547). Fourth, ANOVA mean-comparison tests determine the sentiment with each theme, with 18 themes negatively and one theme positively associated with a 23-minute walking threshold. Results indicate that while 23 minutes is theoretically a generally agreeable walking distance, a number of factors significantly reduce this threshold making it less agreeable in practice. Understanding the factors influencing walking thresholds, or the point at which another mode is considered or the trip is not taken, is crucial for a better understanding of travel behavior and, in turn, more equitable urban planning, transportation management, and infrastructure development.