Disparities in Pedestrian Streetscape Environments by Income and Race/Ethnicity.
Growing evidence suggests that microscale pedestrian environment features, such as sidewalk quality, crosswalks, and neighborhood aesthetics, may affect residents' physical activity. This study examined whether disparities in microscale pedestrian features existed between neighborhoods of differing socioeconomic and racial/ethnic composition. Using the validated Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS), pedestrian environment features were assessed by trained observers along ¼-mile routes (N = 2117) in neighborhoods in three US metropolitan regions (San Diego, Seattle, and Baltimore) during 2009 to 2010. Neighborhoods, defined as Census block groups, were selected to maximize variability in median income and macroscale walkability factors (e.g., density). Mixed-model linear regression analyses explored main and interaction effects of income and race/ethnicity separately by region. Across all three regions, low-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods with a high proportion of racial/ethnic minorities had poorer aesthetics and social elements (e.g., graffiti, broken windows, litter) than neighborhoods with higher median income or fewer racial/ethnic minorities (p<.05). However, there were also instances where neighborhoods with higher incomes and fewer racial/ethnic minorities had worse or absent pedestrian amenities such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections (p<.05). Overall, disparities in microscale pedestrian features occurred more frequently in residential as compared to mixed-use routes with one or more commercial destination. However, considerable variation existed between regions as to which microscale pedestrian features were unfavorable and whether the unfavorable features were associated with neighborhood income or racial/ethnic composition. The variation in pedestrian streetscapes across cities suggests that findings from single-city studies are not generalizable. Local streetscape audits are recommended to identify disparities and efficiently allocate pedestrian infrastructure resources to ensure access and physical activity opportunities for all residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, or income level.
University of California, San Diego/San Diego State University, Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Health Behavior); 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. cmt@ucsd.edu.
Christina M
CM
Thornton
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. tlconway@ucsd.edu ; kcain@ucsd.edu ; kgavand@ucsd.edu ; cgeremia@ucsd.edu ; jsallis@ucsd.edu.
Terry L
TL
Conway
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. tlconway@ucsd.edu ; kcain@ucsd.edu ; kgavand@ucsd.edu ; cgeremia@ucsd.edu ; jsallis@ucsd.edu.
Kelli L
KL
Cain
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. tlconway@ucsd.edu ; kcain@ucsd.edu ; kgavand@ucsd.edu ; cgeremia@ucsd.edu ; jsallis@ucsd.edu.
Kavita A
KA
Gavand
Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington & Seattle Children's Research Institute, 2001 Eighth Ave, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98121, USA. brian.saelens@seattlechildrens.org.
Brian E
BE
Saelens
Schools of Population and Public Health and Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, #433-6333 Memorial Road Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2. ldfrank@urbandesign4health.com; Urban Design 4 Health, Inc., P.O. Box 78361, Seattle, WA, 98178, USA. jchapman@ud4h.com.
Lawrence D
LD
Frank
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. tlconway@ucsd.edu ; kcain@ucsd.edu ; kgavand@ucsd.edu ; cgeremia@ucsd.edu ; jsallis@ucsd.edu.
Carrie M
CM
Geremia
Departments of Epidemiology and Nursing, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and School of Nursing, 801 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. kglanz@upenn.edu.
Karen
K
Glanz
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research & Policy, and the Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 259 Campus Drive, HRP Redwood Building, Stanford CA, 94305-5405, USA. king@stanford.edu; Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research & Policy, and Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 259 Campus Drive, HRP Redwood Building, T221, Stanford, CA 94305-5405, USA.
Abby C
AC
King
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. tlconway@ucsd.edu ; kcain@ucsd.edu ; kgavand@ucsd.edu ; cgeremia@ucsd.edu ; jsallis@ucsd.edu.
James F
JF
Sallis
aesthetics; built environment; exercise; health disparity; physical activity; public health; sidewalk; walkability