Effects of Pedestrian Environments on Physical Activity in Adults and Children

Increasing evidence suggests that elements of the pedestrian environment such as the design of our communities, especially streets and sidewalks can play an important role in promoting the nation's health. Community design overwhelmingly favors one mode of travel, the automobile. Our reliance on automobiles has decreased opportunities to safely walk and cycle and may contribute to a decline in physical activity, which can negatively affect adults' and children's health. For these reasons, it's increasingly important that we promote well-designed and safe environments to improve health and well-being.

The Public Health Consequences of a Sedentary Lifestyle
Our current environment discourages routine physical activity, such as walking and cycling, and encourages a sedentary lifestyle. In 1996, 29% of adults and 14% of youth were sedentary. The health consequences of this lifestyle are alarming: an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases and conditions.

• Physically active people outlive sedentary people by almost two years.
• More than 200,000 deaths per year can be attributed to physical inactivity.
• More than half of adults were overweight in 1994.
  
• One in four children are overweight, and it is likely that many will become overweight adults.
  

How Does the Environment Affect Physical Activity?

Although the links between physical activity and the pedestrian environment have not been fully established, evidence suggests that environmental influences may discourage walking and cycling. The public's general perception is that walking and cycling are unsafe. That perception is supported by real data: for example, in 1996, at least partly because safe places for walking and cycling were scarce, 5,157 pedestrians were killed and 82,000 were injured. About one in eight people who die in traffic accidents are pedestrians; in some large cities, pedestrians account for nearly half of traffic deaths.

• Nearly half of children aged 5B15 are driven to school in cars, another third take the bus, and only 10% walk.
• A survey conducted in 1995 found that only a fifth of high school students walked or cycled for 30 minutes on five or more days during the previous week.
  

Environmental Factors That Encourage Physical Activity

Because opportunities for sufficient physical activity during school and work have decreased, an environment that supports walking or cycling is important.

• In urban neighborhoods where streets have a traditional grid design, the pedestrian volume is up to three times higher than in neighborhoods having cul-de-sac streets or other features that reduce street connectivity.
• Transit-oriented neighborhoods may generate up to twice as many walking and cycling trips as auto-oriented neighborhoods.
• Access to recreation and fitness facilities within walking distance of home may increase the likelihood that people will be physically active.

Working Together to Promote Walking and Cycling
In 1995, walking accounted for only about 5% of trips, automobiles accounted for 86%. Shifts from motorized to nonmotorized travel could result in significant public health benefits. Transportation designers, community planners, members of local government, public health professionals, and concerned citizens must all collaborate to ensure that communities are designed to promote walking and cycling C and therefore promote better health.

Opportunities to Promote Walking and Cycling:

• Provide a safe and convenient network of trails, paths, bikeways, and sidewalks.
• Provide safe walking and cycling routes to schools, businesses and stores.
• Encourage a safe and convenient public transportation system that decreases support on the automobile and accommodates commuters who walk and cycle.

References
Cervero R, Gorham R. Commuting in transit versus automobile neighborhoods. Journal of Am. Planning Assn.1995; 61: 210-225.

Moudon AV, Hess PM, Snyder MC, Stanilov K. Effects of Site Design on Pedestrian Travel in Mixed-Use, Medium-Density Environments. Transportation Research Record. 1997;1578.

Troiano RP, Flegal KM. Overweight children and adolescents: description, epidemiology, and demographics. Pediatrics 1998; 101:497-504.

US Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1996.

US Department of Health and Human Services. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 1995. Atlanta, GA: US Dept of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 45:22-26.

US Department of Transportation. National Transportation Statistics 1997. National Transportation Statistics 1997. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 1997.

US Department of Transportation. 1995 National Personal Transportation Survey - Early Results Report. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Highway Information Management, 1996

California contact:
Anne Seeley, Active Community Environments aseeley@itsa.ucsf.edu (916) 445-0472
UCSF Institute for Health & Aging / CA Department of Health Services