Exploring the impact of subway station areas on cold region communities from a micro perspective: built environment and travel mode selection

In cold-region cities, where harsh weather conditions such as low temperatures, snow, and strong winds have a more significant impact, subway services are crucial for winter mobility, particularly within residential subway station areas. Compared to cities in milder climates, the role of subway systems in these regions is even more vital for ensuring efficient and accessible transportation during the winter months. Although advances in subway construction and operation continue to progress, and existing studies have addressed macro-level environmental behaviors, such as walking time and distance, research and policy on pedestrian walkability in subway station areas in cold climates remain insufficient. In particular, the influence of the micro-scale built environment on walking behavior has yet to be systematically explored. This study, for the first time, develops an evaluation framework for walkability in residential subway station areas in cold-region cities using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). It innovatively incorporates the climate adaptability of cold regions as a key analytical dimension. Based on field interviews with residents surrounding subway stations in Harbin, we identify six key factors influencing walkability: transportation convenience, urban planning and mobility, environmental comfort and aesthetics, safety and security, social and cultural characteristics, and climate adaptability. The results show that: (1) Transportation convenience (γ = 0.52, p