title: Aesthetic amenities and safety hazards associated with walking and bicycling for transportation in New York City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One strategy to address health problems related to insufficient physical activity is to examine modifiable neighborhood characteristics associated with active transportation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate whether neighborhoods with more aesthetic amenities (sidewalk cafés, street trees, and clean sidewalks) and fewer safety hazards (pedestrian-auto fatalities and homicides) are associated with active transportation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 2003 Community Health Survey in New York City, which asked about active transportation (walking or bicycling >10 blocks) in the past 30 days, was linked to ZIP-code population census and built environment characteristics. Adjusted associations were estimated for dichotomous (any active transportation versus none) and continuous (trip frequency) active transportation outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 8,034 adults, those living near sidewalk cafés were 10 % more likely to report active transportation (p = 0.01). Homicide rate was associated with less frequent active transportation among those reporting any active transportation (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Investments in aesthetic amenities or homicide prevention may help to promote active transportation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA. gl2225@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Gina S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lovasi
authors.forename: Ofira
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schwartz-Soicher
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Neckerman
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konty
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kerker
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rundle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001642:Bicycling / Q000523:psychology*; D004954:Esthetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012449:Safety; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*