The influence of urban context on emotions and bodily responses during walking.

Urban walking offers a unique window into how environmental conditions influence human well-being through both subjective perception and physiological response. This study analyzes 2,207 walking trips from 90 participants from their daily mobility patterns in Lisbon, Portugal, integrating GPS trajectories, physiological data, subjective emotional assessments, semantic street imagery, and high-resolution environmental indicators. From this naturalistic data collection, we examined the relationship between urban features - such as vegetation, noise, sky visibility, infrastructure, and points of interest - and peripheral biosignals, such as heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, skin temperature, and self-reported emotional states. Results show that moderately green and culturally vibrant environments are associated with increased well-being, calmness, and alertness measures, while noise, heat, and technical infrastructure trigger measurable physiological activation. Clustering analyses further demonstrate that environmental typologies shape both affective and bodily responses, with greener and quieter routes promoting more favorable outcomes. These findings underscore the embodied nature of walking in cities and highlight the need for urban design strategies that integrate sensory, spatial, and emotional dimensions to support healthier pedestrian experiences.