Residents' Perceptions of Walkability Attributes in Objectively Different Neighbourhoods: A Pilot Study

The physical attributes of local walking environments may be related to walking for particular purposes, such as for exercise, pleasure, or transport. This article reports on a study that used a modified version of the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale to compare residents’ perceptions of the attributes of two neighborhoods that differed on measures derived from Geographic Information System (GIS) databases. Residents of the highly walkable neighborhood rated relevant attributes of residential density, land-use mix (access and diversity), and street connectivity, consistently higher than did residents of the low-walkable neighborhood. Traffic safety and safety from crime attributes did not differ. Perceived neighborhood environment characteristics had moderate to high test-retest reliabilities. The authors conclude with a discussion of the practical and policy implications of how neighborhood physical environment attributes are associated with physical activity behavior.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13538292
• Authors:
  • Leslie, Eva
  • Saelens, Brian
  • Frank, Lawrence
  • Owen, Neville
  • Bauman, Adrian
  • Coffee, Neil
  • Hugo, Graeme
• Publication Date: 2005-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 227-236
• Serial:
  • Health & Place
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1353-8292
  • EISSN: 1873-2054
  • Serial URL: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/health-and-place/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Environmental design; Land use; Mixed use development; Neighborhoods; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrians; Physical fitness; Public health; Walking
• Uncontrolled Terms: Habits
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01003900
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 10 2005 7:54AM