Redefining Walking Distance of Operational Planned Walkable Neighborhood in Malaysian Cities: The Case of Putrajaya City

Abstract

This paper investigates how residents in Putrajaya, Malaysia, perceive the boundaries of their walkable neighbourhoods compared to standard definitions used in planning and health research. While literature typically defines neighbourhoods as areas within a 1-mile (1.6 km) radius, participants asked to map their daily walking areas identified much smaller zones, closer to traditional “five-minute walking” distances. Using annotated maps and GIS analysis, the study reveals a significant gap between standardised measures and lived perceptions of walkability. The findings suggest that operational definitions of walkable neighbourhoods should be reconsidered and potentially reduced to more accurately reflect residents’ real walking behaviour and everyday activity patterns.