Assessing Communities’ “Walkability” and “Bikeability”

University of Washington: Health Promotion Research Center

Topics:
Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Youth

Americans may choose not to walk or bicycle in their neighborhoods because of environmental conditions not conducive to these activities. Conditions such as designated walking trails, well-lighted streets, and on-road bicycle lanes may help promote participation. Physical activity specialists are developing tools for assessing whether neighborhoods are walkable and bikeable. The researchers are reviewing existing instruments for environmental auditing and have surveyed 600 residents (in Seattle’s King County) by telephone about their attitudes and behaviors toward walking and bicycling. Residents’ perspectives and habits are being compared with objective characteristics of their neighborhoods. Using the results, the researchers will structure new instruments for auditing environments’ support for walking and bicycling as regular activities.

 

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