Objective As contemporary lifestyles continue to evolve, urban residents have witnessed a notable surge in the demand for nighttime running activities. However, it is imperative to acknowledge that the existing research on environmental perception predominantly focuses on daytime running scenario, leading to a constrained comprehension of how nighttime street environments influence the perceptions of runners. Given the distinctive disparities between daytime and nighttime running contexts, variables such as illumination, pedestrian density and accessibility of nighttime streetscape hold significant potential to shape runners’ perceptions of safety, comfort, resilience, etc. Therefore, there exists a compelling necessity for a more comprehensive investigation into how diverse categories of street environments during nighttime influence the perceptions of urban residents interested in nighttime running activities.

Methods This research aims to evaluate how nighttime street environments influence the visual perception of nighttime running environment by taking in account the six key indicators of safety, resilience, comfort, perceived accessibility, attractiveness, and quality of street environment. The research is conducted in the core area of Yuexiu District in Guangzhou. The computer vision technology is used to extract elements from nighttime street environments, and the visual perception of nighttime running environment is assessed using a combination of crowdsourced human-computer interaction evaluations and a residual neural network model, based on which a spatial autocorrelation analysis is performed. Furthermore, a geographically weighted regression model is applied to better understand the influence of various urban street environment factors on the visual perception of nighttime running environment.

Results Different types of streets vary greatly in how nighttime runners perceive them. Waterfront streets and historical and cultural streets often display heightened levels of safety, resilience, and allure. This suggests that these locales typically provide a secure and comfortable environment for nighttime running, albeit at the expense of slightly diminished perceived accessibility. In contrast, single-purpose dining streets and those with limited functional diversity tend to score lower in terms of resilience, comfort, and environmental quality, likely due to factors such as heavy pedestrian traffic and vehicular congestion. Commercial streets, however, tend to garner higher ratings in resilience, attractiveness, and comfort. Moreover, various environmental aspects of nighttime streets, such as green visibility, sky visibility, degree of congestion, degree of enclosure, walkability, scenario diversity, color temperature, and brightness, demonstrate substantial variations in their associations with the visual perception of nighttime running environment across different types of streets. For instance, waterfront streets are more likely to be perceived as comfortable and accessible during nighttime running, and enhancing the brightness of street lighting and utilizing warm-toned illumination can enhance the convenience and perceived accessibility of nighttime running in such areas. Historical and cultural streets are particularly susceptible to the influences of nighttime environmental conditions. Increasing the green visibility, openness, brightness, and walkability can stimulate nighttime running by appealing to runners through the presence of lush green spaces, expansive views of the night sky, and broad sidewalks. In the case of comprehensive streets, reducing the perception of enclosure can heighten attractiveness, especially in well-appointed streets. However, such associations may decrease the sense of safety in bustling commercial and dining streets characterized by chaotic traffic. This implies that well-maintained comprehensive streets can attract night runners, whereas streets under poor management may diminish the perception of safety. Furthermore, in mixed-use areas, attractiveness and resilience are more readily influenced by nighttime street environment factors, and warm-toned lighting may detract from the beauty of streets.

Conclusion This research highlights the importance of targeted urban planning and design strategies tailored to the functional attributes of different types of streets in optimizing the urban environment for nighttime running. Specifically, the introduction of windbreak greenery and other landscaping elements in open waterfront areas can create a comfortable microclimate, thereby enhancing the overall comfort of nighttime running. In streets of historical and cultural significance, strategically placing uniform and soft lighting fixtures and incorporating decorative greenery can not only ensure safety but also foster a vibrant nighttime running ambiance. For mixed-use streets with diverse functions, enhancing the quality of roads and pedestrian infrastructure and integrating distinct rest areas or social spaces can enrich the nighttime running experience. In view of this, relevant authorities need to take into account the functional attributes and unique characteristics of local streets in future urban planning and design endeavors. Measures such as lighting upgrades, landscape enhancement, and site adaptation must be implemented to enhance the comfort, safety, and attractiveness of nighttime running environments. This, in turn, will contribute to the development of urban public spaces that better cater to the needs of night runners, encouraging residents to participate in nighttime running activities and ultimately fostering a more dynamic, inclusive, and health-oriented urban nighttime lifestyle. Such a transformative approach will guide cities toward creating a more accommodating environment for nighttime runners.