The U.S. Surgeon General’s recent “Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities” highlights the impact that planning and design have on physical activity. As the projects and research here illustrate, factors like connectivity, access, lighting, and aesthetics have a strong influence on our decisions to walk for transportation and recreation. Landscape solutions are essential to create quality pedestrian environments that encourage people to get out, get active, and leave the car behind.
“As the first built segment of the monumental Atlanta BeltLine (adaptive reuse of a 22-mile abandoned railroad corridor), the 2.25-mile Eastside Trail attracts an average of 3,000-10,000 users per day. 90% of survey respondents said that the trail provides them with an active lifestyle benefit, and 70% said they exercise more since the trail opened.”
“This landmark project transformed 23-acres of neglected space under freeways into a thriving waterfront park with 1.4 miles of paved trails that connect to the 20-mile Bayou trail network. 88% of 100+ users surveyed said that the park increases their level of outdoor activity. Access to the park was enhanced with 12 street-to-trail connections and a new pedestrian bridge that links the north and south sides of the bayou for the first time.”
“88% of students walk or bike to school in this mixed-use community over 3,000 homes (and growing). As Utah’s largest master-planned community, Daybreak follows a traditional neighborhood development model with all homes are just a short walk from a major amenity such as a park, the lake, or a shopping area. The community also incorporates 22 miles of trails, and every home is within 1/4 mile of the trail system.”
“By reorganizing 12 traffic lanes, disentangling circulation and creating a central pedestrian plaza, this project helped to nearly eliminate pedestrian and cyclist fatalities along the 8-block stretch of Queens Boulevard. Safety improvements include 19 accessible pedestrian crossings with painted roadway markings and countdown signals, median “No-Go” barriers, and 2,200 feet of dedicated bike path.”
“Walkable neighborhoods make it easy to build physical activity into everyday routines. In this San Diego study, walking for errands amounted to 70 more minutes of exercise per week. The walkable neighborhoods also had a lower prevalence of obesity, even after adjusting for individuals’ ages and education levels.”
“More and more commuters are choosing active transportation for the freedom and opportunity to build-in exercise. And other studies have shown that a higher percentage of people opt for biking and walking in places with appropriate infrastructure like wide sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes.”
“Physical factors play a role for those looking to walk for exercise. In this study, total time walking was lower for walking program participants who perceived street lighting or aesthetics to be low. Motivational aids like pedometers can help to offset, but not completely overcome, these barriers. ”
“Walking isn’t just about physical activity; it has also been linked to a variety of mental health benefits. But to get these benefits, the quality of the surrounding environment is critical. Studies like this one show that stress reduction, attention restoration, and mood are all improved when walking through a natural environment, while walking in urban environments has a lesser (or opposite!) effect. ”
