The development of a walkability index: application to the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study.
Emerging evidence supports a link between neighbourhood built environment and physical activity. Systematic methodologies for characterising neighbourhood built environment are needed that take advantage of available population information such as census-level demographics. Based on transportation and urban planning literatures, an integrated index for operationalising walkability using parcel-level information is proposed. Validity of the walkability index is examined through travel surveys among areas examined in the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study (NQLS), a study investigating built environment correlates of adults' physical activity.
Frank
L D
LD
School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia, 231-1933 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z2. ldfrank@interchange.ubc.ca
Sallis
J F
JF
Saelens
B E
BE
Leary
L
L
Cain
K
K
Conway
T L
TL
Hess
P M
PM
D000328:Adult; D004779:Environment Design; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014504:Urban Health; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*