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 AV

  • Journal/Publisher:

    Prev Med

  • Edition:

    Dec 2014. 69:80-6

  • Link to Article

    Access the article here: Prev Med

  • Citation:

    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 69:80-6

  • Related Studies:

    Small Town Walkability: Measuring the Effect of the Built Environment