The built environment and utilitarian walking in small U.S. towns
Abstract
Objectives
The role of the built environment on walking in rural United States (U.S.) locations is not well characterized. We examined self-reported and measured built environment correlates of walking for utilitarian purposes among adult residents of small rural towns.
Methods
In 2011–12, we collected telephone survey and geographic data from 2152 adults in 9 small towns from three U.S. regions. We performed mixed-effects logistic regression modeling to examine relationships between built environment measures and utilitarian walking (“any” versus “none”; “high” [≥ 150 min per week] versus “low” [< 150 min per week]) to retail, employment and public transit destinations.
Results
Walking levels were lower than those reported for populations living in larger metropolitan areas. Environmental factors significantly (p < 0.05) associated with higher odds of utilitarian walking in both models included self-reported presence of crosswalks and pedestrian signals and availability of park/natural recreational areas in the neighborhood, and also objectively measured manufacturing land use.
Conclusions
Environmental factors associated with utilitarian walking in cities and suburbs were important in small rural towns. Moreover, manufacturing land use was associated with utilitarian walking. Modifying the built environment of small towns could lead to increased walking in a sizeable segment of the U.S. population.
Authors:
Doescher MP, Lee C, Berke EM, Adachi-Mejia AM, Lee CK, Stewart O, Patterson DG, Hurvitz PM, Carlos HA, Duncan GE, Moudon AVJournal/Publisher:
Prev MedEdition:
Dec 2014. 69:80-6Link to Article
Access the article here: Prev MedCitation:
Doescher MP, Lee C, Berke EM, Adachi-Mejia AM, Lee CK, Stewart O, Patterson DG, Hurvitz PM, Carlos HA, Duncan GE, Moudon AV. The Built Environment And Utilitarian Walking In Small U.S. Towns. Prev Med. Dec 2014 69:80-6Related Studies:
Small Town Walkability: Measuring the Effect of the Built Environment