The Urban Safari is a sidewalk analysis methodology based on a study developed in the United States titled "Active Design: Shaping the Sidewalk Experience."
According to the "active design" concept, lifestyle and physical activity levels are direct results of building forms and city planning. Consequently, new design guidelines, laws, and urban projects can be created to foster more active lifestyles and contribute to programs aimed at preventing diseases linked to obesity and sedentary behavior.
Within this context, the specific study on sidewalks was created to address the following questions: How can we encourage individuals to walk more and adopt this mode of transportation? Which elements ensure a pleasant—as well as safe, healthy, attractive, useful, and enjoyable—experience for pedestrians? The study then proposes the following equation: the pedestrian experience while walking on a sidewalk is shaped by a physical space composed of various elements, which, in turn, are regulated by policies. "Experience," "physical space," and "policies" are aspects explored in depth throughout the Urban Safari.
