title: Accessibility and connectivity in physical activity studies: the impact of missing pedestrian data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One important characteristic in physical activity research into the built environment is network connectivity, usually calculated using street networks. However, a true pedestrian network may have very different connectivity than a street network. This study, conducted in 2004, examines the difference in walkability analyses when street networks versus pedestrian networks are used for four metropolitan suburbs in Perth, Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A street network of Perth was used to represent the current standard of data for walkability analyses. Aerial photography from 2003 was used to create a pedestrian network, which incorporated pedestrian footpaths into the street network. The street and pedestrian networks were compared using three measures of connectivity: Pedsheds, link node ratio and pedestrian route directness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A comparison of the results using street versus pedestrian networks showed very different outcomes for conventional neighbourhood designs. Connectivity measures for conventional neighbourhoods improved up to 120% with the addition of pedestrian networks, although traditional neighbourhoods still had slightly better connectivity values overall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The true pedestrian network increases the connectivity of a neighbourhood and may have significant impact on these measures, especially in neighbourhoods with conventional street designs. It is critical that future studies incorporate pedestrian networks into their analyses.
authors.affiliation: City of Cockburn, Cockburn, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary K W
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Kimberly P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Van Niel
authors.forename: Billie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giles-Corti
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knuiman
mesh_terms: D001107:Architectural Accessibility; D015982:Bias; D002958:City Planning; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D016138:Walking; D014904:Western Australia