Growing concerns about transportation emissions and environmental challenges have led researchers from past years to defend the concept of walkable cities. This research reveals the complex interdependence of urban design qualities and walkability, to improvise urban form for walking. The literature review is applied as a potent method to collect data. From the literature review, the following ten urban design qualities and environmental features: (Aesthetics: complexity, enclosure, imageability, human scale, transparency, Function: accessibility, land use mix, traffic role, Safety: safety from crime, safety from traffic) are reviewed in the context of walkability. Other methods in the empirical study include a selection of three different streets in Hyderabad having variations in form and features, field observation using serial vision method, walking as urban observation using observation sheet and analyzing by shades of black analysis method, and surveys (including questionnaires and interviews from the users of the three selected streets). Visual analysis is conducted through the serial vision method, color mapping, and mapping the coverage method to analyze the relative impact of each element on walkability to declare each element either as a prevention or enabler of walkability.

Walkability, urban design qualities, environmental features, urban form, walkable neighborhood