Frequency and velocity of people walking

This paper investigates the stepping frequency and velocity of people walking. It considers 800 measurements on two footbridges and two shopping floors. During the measurements, the participants were not aware that they were being observed and walked naturally. The measurements of walking frequency, velocity and step-length were processed using statistical methods and the stepping frequency and velocity of the walking determined. It is found that (a) on shopping floors the people walk with an average frequency of 2.0Hz and a velocity of 1.4m/s, but on the footbridges they walk with an average frequency of 1.8Hz and a velocity of 1.3m/s; (b) the step-length on the shopping floors and the footbridges are almost the same with average values of 0.75m for men and 0.67m for women; (c) the men walk with a higher velocity than the women, while the women walk with higher frequency than the men; and (d) there is a linear relationship between walking velocity and frequency which is different for men and women. The results are compared with data obtained approximately 20 years ago.

Aikaterini Pachi, BEng, MSc
Ktiriodomiki, Volos, Greece
Tianjian Ji, BSc MSc, PhD, CEng, MIStructE
Senior Lecturer, School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, The University of Manchester