Abstract
Many studies have used the concept of ‘walkability’ to assess how conducive a neighbourhood is to physical activity, especially active travel. Studies in the United States and Australia have traditionally used a road-based network system of intersection density to derive a walkability index. However, other studies suggest that analyses based on footpath networks may provide a more robust basis for assessing the walkability of built environments in the European context as they better capture alternative opportunities for physical activity such as parks and greenways. To date, no studies have examined whether a road- or footpath-based network is more closely related to actual physical activity behaviour. Therefore, the aims of this paper were to examine associations between active travel and walkability indices based on both road- and footpath-based intersection density and to establish which measure provided the best fit to the data.
Methods
Cross-sectional survey and geographical information system (GIS) data were collected from February 2010-January 2011. A series of crude and fully adjusted zero-inflated negative binomial regression analyses examined associations between road- and footpath-based walkability and the average minutes per week of active travel.
Results
Model fit indices suggested that the models using road-based walkability provided a marginally better fit. However, regression results indicated similar findings with respect to the effect of road- and footpath-based walkability on active travel.
Conclusion
Results suggest that footpath-based indices of walkability are comparable to road-based indices in their associations with active travel and are an alternative model, particularly for assessing environmental change in non-road-based built environment interventions.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 119-127 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Transport and Health |
| Volume | 6 |
| Early online date | 19 Jun 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 19 Jun 2017 |
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Keywords
- walkability index
- footpaths
- built environment
- travel-related physical activity
- active travel
Cite this
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A comparison of road- and footpath-based walkability indices and their associations with active travel. / Cruise, S.M.; Hunter, R.F.; Kee, F.; Donnelly, M.; Ellis, G.; Tully, M.A.
Vol. 6, 19.06.2017, p. 119-127.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparison of road- and footpath-based walkability indices and their associations with active travel
AU - Cruise, S.M.
AU - Hunter, R.F.
AU - Kee, F.
AU - Donnelly, M.
AU - Ellis, G.
AU - Tully, M.A.
N1 - cited By 0
PY - 2017/6/19
Y1 - 2017/6/19
N2 - BackgroundMany studies have used the concept of ‘walkability’ to assess how conducive a neighbourhood is to physical activity, especially active travel. Studies in the United States and Australia have traditionally used a road-based network system of intersection density to derive a walkability index. However, other studies suggest that analyses based on footpath networks may provide a more robust basis for assessing the walkability of built environments in the European context as they better capture alternative opportunities for physical activity such as parks and greenways. To date, no studies have examined whether a road- or footpath-based network is more closely related to actual physical activity behaviour. Therefore, the aims of this paper were to examine associations between active travel and walkability indices based on both road- and footpath-based intersection density and to establish which measure provided the best fit to the data.MethodsCross-sectional survey and geographical information system (GIS) data were collected from February 2010-January 2011. A series of crude and fully adjusted zero-inflated negative binomial regression analyses examined associations between road- and footpath-based walkability and the average minutes per week of active travel.ResultsModel fit indices suggested that the models using road-based walkability provided a marginally better fit. However, regression results indicated similar findings with respect to the effect of road- and footpath-based walkability on active travel.ConclusionResults suggest that footpath-based indices of walkability are comparable to road-based indices in their associations with active travel and are an alternative model, particularly for assessing environmental change in non-road-based built environment interventions.
AB - BackgroundMany studies have used the concept of ‘walkability’ to assess how conducive a neighbourhood is to physical activity, especially active travel. Studies in the United States and Australia have traditionally used a road-based network system of intersection density to derive a walkability index. However, other studies suggest that analyses based on footpath networks may provide a more robust basis for assessing the walkability of built environments in the European context as they better capture alternative opportunities for physical activity such as parks and greenways. To date, no studies have examined whether a road- or footpath-based network is more closely related to actual physical activity behaviour. Therefore, the aims of this paper were to examine associations between active travel and walkability indices based on both road- and footpath-based intersection density and to establish which measure provided the best fit to the data.MethodsCross-sectional survey and geographical information system (GIS) data were collected from February 2010-January 2011. A series of crude and fully adjusted zero-inflated negative binomial regression analyses examined associations between road- and footpath-based walkability and the average minutes per week of active travel.ResultsModel fit indices suggested that the models using road-based walkability provided a marginally better fit. However, regression results indicated similar findings with respect to the effect of road- and footpath-based walkability on active travel.ConclusionResults suggest that footpath-based indices of walkability are comparable to road-based indices in their associations with active travel and are an alternative model, particularly for assessing environmental change in non-road-based built environment interventions.
KW - walkability index
KW - footpaths
KW - built environment
KW - travel-related physical activity
KW - active travel
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85020939193&doi=10.1016%2fj.jth.2017.05.364&partnerID=40&md5=69125a9e0c0a76ddbf51c0202a5dad89
U2 - 10.1016/j.jth.2017.05.364
DO - 10.1016/j.jth.2017.05.364
M3 - Article
VL - 6
SP - 119
EP - 127
ER -