Built environment and walking commute satisfaction: a route-level analysis

Racial segregation has long characterized urban life in the U.S., with research consistently showing that minority groups occupy different social spaces than whites. While past scholarship has focused largely on residential contexts, a considerable portion of individuals’ days is spent outside of the home and existing research misses the potential for cross-group contact in non-residential contexts. In this paper, we assess the levels and patterns of segregation in the environments where people spend their workday, for white, black, Hispanic, and Asian workers. Using commuting data from the Census Transportation Planning Package, we construct measures of racial composition in “workhoods” and compare metropolitan-level segregation in places of work and home. Results indicate that workhood segregation is substantially lower than residential segregation. Black-white segregation in work settings is, for example, half the level of black-white segregation in residential settings. Multivariate analyses also reveal that workhood segregation, for all groups, is higher in metropolitan areas with greater residential segregation. For Hispanic workers, areas with larger immigrant populations have higher workhood segregation, and for blacks, workhood segregation is lower in metropolitan areas with large military populations. Our findings also consistently show that black and Hispanic workhood segregation is lower in areas where minority groups are more occupationally disadvantaged.

In this paper, we discuss walkable cities from the perspective of urban planning and design in the era of digitalization and urban big data. We start with a brief review on historical walkable cities schemes; followed by a deliberation on what a walkable city is and what the spatial elements of a walkable city are; and a discussion on the emerging themes and empirical methods to measure the spatial and urban design features of a walkable city. The first part of this paper looks at key urban design propositions and how they were proposed to promote walkability. The second part of this paper discusses the concept of walkability, which is fundamental to designing a walkable city. We emphasize both the physical (walkways, adjacent uses, space) and the perceived aspects (safety, comfort, enjoyment), and then we look at the variety of spatial elements constituting a walkable city. The third part of this paper looks at the emerging themes for designing walkable cities and neighborhoods. We discuss the application of urban big data enabled by growing computational powers and related empirical methods and interdisciplinary approaches including spatial planning, urban design, urban ecology, and public health. This paper aims to provide a holistic approach toward understanding of urban design and walkability, re-evaluate the spatial elements to build walkable cities, and discuss future policy interventions.

This study examines the relationship between street-level urban design perceptual qualities and walking behavior in the City of Dallas. While the city has the potential to experience growth in pedestrian activities, it exhibits a very low level of walking activity, placing it as one of the least walkable cities in the nation. To assess the impact of urban design qualities on walkability, we collected data on 23 features related to urban design, 11 built environment variables characterized as D variables comprising diversity, density, design, distance to transit, and destination accessibility. The sample included 402 street block faces in Dallas Downtown Improvement District. Accounting for spatial autocorrelation, we found that two urban design qualities, among five, including image-ability—such as a memorable quality of a place, and transparency—as to what degree people can see beyond the street’s edge—significantly influence pedestrian volume in downtown streets. These findings are in agreement with the two previous studies that used the same methodology in different cities (New York City, NYC and Salt Lake City, UT). According to the findings of these three studies, the other urban design qualities including human scale, complexity, as well as enclosure, are not playing a significant role in walkability, despite the theoretical justification and the extensive operationalization efforts. The findings of this study draw policy makers’ attention to creating more appealing and walkable places through the implementation of these urban design qualities.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in developing countries such as Indonesia. In Kotamobagu city, North Sulawesi, despite being recognized as one of Indonesia's most tolerant cities, patients with TB face persistent stigmatization and discrimination. This study aimed to examine the social construction of discrimination against TB patients in Kotamobagu city, focusing on how these perceptions develop and persist. This qualitative study employed a constructivist paradigm and utilized Berger and Luckman's social construction theory. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and direct observations of 16 informants, including patients with TB, healthcare workers, family members, neighbors, and colleagues. The analysis was conducted via NVIVO 12 Plus software following a systematic thematic approach. The study revealed complex patterns of stigmatization and discrimination across familial, community, and workplace settings. Network analysis revealed interconnected stigmatization factors, with physical isolation emerging as a primary preventive reaction within families. Social distancing behaviors have been documented in both familial and workplace environments. This research identified multiple pathways through which stigmatization affects patients' lives, including social isolation, psychological impact, and treatment adherence. Fear of transmission has emerged as the primary driver of discriminatory behaviors, leading to various forms of social exclusion and workplace ostracism. TB-related stigma and discrimination in Kotamobagu manifest through complex social mechanisms that significantly affect patients' psychological well-being and treatment outcomes. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive interventions that address both the structural and interpersonal aspects of stigma, particularly in workplace and family settings.

This article investigates the conditions of the built environment that influence urban walkability, essential for public health and quality of life. The study analyzes elements such as sidewalks, lighting, security, building density and proximity to services and green areas. The results show that neighborhoods with adequate infrastructure for pedestrians, such as wide sidewalks, good lighting and proximity to commercial and leisure areas, have higher walkability rates. The perception of safety is crucial, influencing residents' willingness to walk. Areas with a higher density of walkable services are associated with a greater frequency of walking, suggesting that improvements to the built environment can promote more active and healthy lifestyle habits. The theoretical contributions of the study include confirming the relationship between urban infrastructure and walking behaviors, offering a solid foundation for future research on walkability and urban planning. Social and environmental contributions highlight the importance of urban planning that prioritizes walkability to improve active mobility and promote sustainability. Public policies aimed at this issue can encourage the development of more walkable cities, reducing dependence on motor vehicles and encouraging more active and healthy lifestyles.

The objective of this study was assess differences in the incidence, late-stage diagnosis, and prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE), adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (AE), and adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia (AGC) in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas in the United States. The authors identified 29,527 patients with SCCE, AE, or AGC who were reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program between 2004 and 2009. Incidence estimates for each malignancy were compared across metropolitan, urban, and rural areas. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the association between residential setting and late (distant-stage) diagnosis, and the results were reported as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association between residential setting and cause-specific survival. When residential setting was analyzed using metropolitan population centers as the reference category, the incidence of AE was higher in urban areas (rate ratio [RR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06-1.20) and rural areas (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25), whereas the incidence of SCCE was lower in rural areas (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.91). Rural patients were less likely to be diagnosed with stage IV AE compared with patients residing in metropolitan areas (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.97). No differences in prognosis were observed when patients from large metropolitan centers were compared with their rural counterparts. The current findings indicated that preconceptions regarding disparities in the time of diagnosis and survival between patients from metropolitan and rural areas in the United States are either unwarranted or out of date, at least with respect to gastroesophageal cancers.

Transportation enhances mobility both spatially and temporally, connecting individuals to various agencies and increasing opportunities for out-of-home activities. Consequently, travel is widely acknowledged as a key contributor to well-being. Environmental characteristics also influence travel behavior, yet uncertainties remain regarding the interplay between travel, the environment, and well-being. This dissertation contributes to this knowledge base by examining multiple representations of the environment (e.g., street view images, land-use data, and built environment perceptions) in relation to travel behavior and mental health, while also exploring the implications of physical and mental health for travel behavior. Chapter 2 systematically examines the commuting–well-being–mental health interplay. Longer commutes negatively affect well-being and mental health, whereas active travel (walking and cycling) has positive associations. The results also suggest that accumulated commute experience may influence well-being and mental health, with emotional response acting as a moderator. Chapter 3 explores the role of street view (SV) environments in walking behavior. SV features primarily impact weekend walking, complementing land-use-based measures. For instance, greenery positively correlates with walking duration, while walls and cars show negative associations. Chapter 4 investigates the effect of green space on mental health, revealing that denser green space along commute routes may elevate stress, particularly for active commuters. However, this effect varies depending on measurement approaches, emphasizing the need for further research. Chapters 5 and 6 highlight the role of well-being in travel behavior. Body mass index negatively correlates with non-commute walking frequency, while environmental and health-related factors have varying influences. Additionally, men with poorer mental health are more likely to commute by bus/tram than by car, while no significant relationship is observed for women. This dissertation offers insights for urban planning and transport policies. It underscores the importance of incorporating multiple environmental representations to better understand travel behavior. To promote walking, planners should enhance streetscapes (e.g., increasing greenery and reducing barriers) and improve perceived safety. Policy interventions should consider temporal variations in walking needs and carefully integrate green space to align with behavioral contexts. Finally, transport and urban planning should incorporate well-being considerations, acknowledging its dual role as both a determinant and an outcome of travel behavior.

본 연구에서는 도시특성에 따른 생활권계획 수립방향을 도출하고자 도시 입지와 규모에 따라 22개 지자체에서 도시관리 업무를 경험한 공무원을 대상으로 도시ㆍ주거환경의 문제와 생활권 관리방향을 조사하여 도시특성별 도시ㆍ주거지 관리의 방향을 제시하고자 한다. 생활권계획의 수립은 도시기본계획의 하나의 쳅터로서 상세히 작성하는 방법, 도시기본계획의 별권으로 작성하는 방법, 정비기본계획의 일환으로 작성하는 방법 등 다양하며 도시기본계획 용역발주시 지자체에서 정할 수 있는 부분으로 본 연구는 구체적인 실현방법보다는 도시특성에 따른 계획차별화 방향에 초점을 두고자 한다. 따라서 본 연구는 도시특성별 생활권관리 방향의 구체화를 통해 궁극적으로 도시여건에 맞는 도시ㆍ주거환경의 관리가 이뤄지는데 기반이 되는 자료를 제공하고자 한다. 본 연구의 연구문제는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 도시특성에 따라 어떤 도시ㆍ주거환경 문제가 심각한지 파악한다. 둘째, 생활권관리를 통해 비수도권 지역과 중소도시는 어떤 도시ㆍ주거환경 문제 개선이 가능한지 파악한다. 셋째, 도시특성에 따라 생활권관리가 필요한 주요 분야와 세부방안을 파악한다. 조사대상 지자체는 입지에 따라 수도권과 지방, 인구규모에 따라 광역시, 대도시, 중소도시로 구분하여 22개 지자체 446명의 공무원에게 조사를 수행하였다.The purpose of this study was to investigate the recognition of problems about urban and residential environment and the management alternatives of neighborhood units in Korean government officials. A cross-sectional survey was used and the data were collected in 2015. Participants were total 446 government officials who represented 22 local governments including metropolitan cities and small and medium-sized cities in Korea. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, in the aspects of problems in urban and residential environments, the larger the size of the city, the more serious the problem of poor living conditions, and the smaller the city, the more serious the problem of poor management of buildings and land, and the lack of public and convenience facilities. According to the location, all housing environment problems were worse in the metropolitan area, and in the non-metropolitan area, the only problem with the lack of new housing supply was found to be more serious than in the metropolitan area. Second, the historical and cultural assets and ecological and landscape resources were city problems that could be improved by the neighborhood unit management. In particular, the management of historical and cultural resources was highly demanded in large cities and in the metropolitan areas. Third, the management of neighborhood unit was the most needed in the ‘city center and residential area’ areas. Specifically, by the city size, ‘city center and residential area’ and ‘infrastructure and transportation’ were highly needed in neighborhood unit planning at the metropolitan and the small and medium-sized cities. Otherwise, ‘regional resources’ and ‘farming and rural areas’ were highly needed in neighborhood unit planning at the large cities. By location, ‘industry’ and ‘infrastructure and transportation’ were highly needed in the metropolitan areas, and ‘farming and rural areas’ in non- metropolitan areas.

Prior research on perceived walkability finds generally positive associations between walkability, walking behavior, and well-being. However, these relationships are little examined in the Global South, particularly in locations with significant environmental stressors. This study examined relationships between perceived walkability, walking behavior, and subjective well-being, using a survey of residents in two neighborhoods in Delhi, India. In particular, it examined whether perceived walkability covaried with walking behavior under conditions of environmental stress, and how walking and perceptions of the walking environment affected subjective well-being. Following a descriptive examination of mobility and perceptions, the concept of “walking dissonance” was empirically operationalized, a condition in which individuals walk frequently despite negative perceptions of walkability. Multivariate linear regression assessed the relationship between walking dissonance and subjective well-being, controlling for other factors. The results showed that in these neighborhoods, perceptions of low environmental quality were associated with perceptions of poor walking conditions. Nevertheless, walking behavior did not consistently correlate with these perceptions. Conflict between walking perceptions and behavior may be associated with impacts to well-being that should concern decision makers investing in transportation infrastructure and the built environment.

Exploring walking behaviour and perceived walkability of older adults in London

This systematic review explores the psychological impact of meditation practices on anger management in workplace settings. By synthesizing data from multiple studies, this review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various meditation techniques in reducing anger and enhancing emotional regulation among employees. The review includes a comprehensive analysis of randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and qualitative research, focusing on outcomes such as self-reported anger levels, behavioral changes, and physiological markers of stress. Preliminary findings suggest that meditation practices, particularly mindfulness-based interventions, can significantly reduce anger and improve overall emotional well-being in workplace environments. This review highlights the potential of meditation as a cost-effective and non-pharmacological approach to anger management, with implications for organizational policies and employee mental health programs. Workplace stress and anger are significant challenges that affect employee well-being and organizational productivity. Meditation practices, particularly those rooted in mindfulness and spiritual traditions, have gained attention for their potential to mitigate these issues. This systematic review examines the psychological impact of meditation practices, with a focus on their effectiveness in anger management within workplace settings. Drawing on evidence from peer-reviewed studies, the review explores the underlying mechanisms through which meditation influences emotional regulation, stress response, and interpersonal behavior. Special emphasis is placed on practices like meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and transcendental meditation, assessing their role in fostering emotional stability and resilience among employees. Findings indicate that meditation practices significantly reduce anger levels by enhancing self-awareness, promoting cognitive reappraisal, and reducing physiological markers of stress. The review also highlights the organizational benefits of integrating meditation programs, including improved workplace harmony, employee engagement, and mental health outcomes.

Mining individuals’ commute routes has been a hot spot in recent researches. Besides the significant impact on human mobility analysis, it is quite important in lots of fields, such as traffic flow analysis, urban planning, and path recommendation. Common ways to obtain these pieces of information are mostly based on the questionnaires, which have many disadvantages such as high manpower cost, low accuracy, and low sampling rate. To overcome these problems, we propose a commute routes recovering model to recover individuals’ commute routes based on passively generated mobile phone data. The challenges of the model lie in the low sampling rate of signal records and low precision of location information from mobile phone data. To address these challenges, our model applies two main modules. The first is data preprocessing module, which extracts commute trajectories from raw dataset and formats the road network into a better modality. The second module combines two kinds of information together and generates the commute route with the highest possibility. To evaluate the effectiveness of our method, we evaluate the results in two ways, which are path score evaluation and evaluation based on visualization. Experimental results have shown better performance of our method than the compared method.

The positive impact of transit-oriented-development characteristics on Metro Station usage: A case study of Tehran's metro stations and TOD index calculation

Reviewed by: Walkable Cities: Revitalization, Vibrancy, and Sustainable Consumption by Carlos J. L. Balsas Bradley Bereitschaft Carlos J. L. Balsas Walkable Cities: Revitalization, Vibrancy, and Sustainable Consumption. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2019. xix + 238 pp. References and index. $32.95 paper (ISBN 978-1-4384-7628-5); $95.00 cloth (ISBN 978-1-4384-7627-8); $18.12 electronic (ISBN 978-1-4384-7629-2). In the early 1960s, as urban renewal schemes designed to prioritize the automobile and needlessly segregate land uses, took hold in the United States and elsewhere, the urban theorist and activist Jane Jacobs argued eloquently and persuasively against this new paradigm and in favor of what many now consider “traditional” urban planning and design. At the heart of this traditional way of building cities is a fine-grained mix of mutually-supportive land uses – residential, commercial, civic – that at reasonable urban densities, encourages people to walk and generally inhabit the public realm (i.e., sidewalks, plazas, parks, etc.). Shoppers, street vendors, residents, office workers, tourists, and shopkeepers all take part in a kind of “street ballet” that lends vitality, vibrancy, and safety to an urban neighborhood. In Walkable Cities Carlos Balsas focuses on the core element of Jacob’s street ballet: the retail businesses and enterprises that shape the economic viability and vitality of city centers around the world. Through a diverse set of case studies in Portugal, Spain, The United States, Mexico, and Brazil, Balsas shows how business owners, political leaders, and community groups have employed strategic and coordinated planning, public-private partnerships, and various place-making efforts to cope with internal and external stresses related to urban growth, globalization, [End Page 210] economic restructuring, and changing consumer preferences. Focusing mainly on solutions and adaptations utilizing commercial revitalization strategies, Balsas takes a unique and refreshing approach to distilling and addressing these complex issues through a series of myths and “reality checks.” Balsas suggests that one of the most widespread and substantial challenges city centers have had to contend with over the past century is suburbanization and the subsequent rise of new retail formats such as shopping malls, big box stores, and strip malls that are often capable of out-competing traditional urban retail stores in regard to price, convenience, and product selection. In the first chapter, however, Balsas rejects the notion that this increase in competition from suburban retail markets is the sole, or even primary, reason traditional retail in the city center has so frequently struggled. Instead, he suggests that retailers, in concert with municipal leaders and other stakeholders, should take responsibility for attracting customers by providing attractive urban spaces and unique retail experiences (a revitalization strategy the author refers to as commercial urbanism). As Balsas notes throughout the book, one of the critical differences between the retail environment of urban centers and those of the suburbs is that visitors “want to have a pleasant experience without necessarily having to shop” (p. 84). Indeed, one of the central themes of the book is that traditional urban centers, with their dense, human-scaled streetscapes can leverage the unique social and environmental experiences (i.e., diverse people, street vendors, smells and sounds, historic architecture) to not only attract customers but also differentiate themselves from suburban retail offerings. While Balsas extolls the virtues of walkable urban districts, he also warns against cities rushing to implement pedestrian-only zones given the failure of so many “pedestrian malls,” particularly in the United States. Drawing on case studies from Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, Balsas suggests that these spaces can be highly successful, however it is critical that they are a part of an authentic “living neighborhood” rather than simply an urban re-imagination of a suburban mall. They also need strong pedestrian and transit connections with the surrounding urban tissue. The implication is that pedestrian districts are best not to be thought of as stand-alone revitalization strategies, but rather “upgrades” to existing commercial areas where much of the traffic is already on foot. Balsas again emphasizes the need for careful planning and cooperative management strategies to ensure the long-term maintenance and viability of pedestrian-only spaces. Even when successful, the...

Environmental influence is one of the important factors in breast cancer incidence because residential and work environments may be potential for breast cancer outcomes. This study aimed to determine residential and workplace environments with the occurrence of women breast cancer in urban areas in Indonesia. This study used data from Non-Communicable Disease (NCD Research) in 2016 which covered 34 provinces in Indonesia. There were 38,790 people to measure the occurrence of breast cancer in women aged 25–64 years. The sample was women who were willing to be interviewed and to conduct clinical breast examinations (Sadanis). The analysis was aimed at finding out the correlation between exposure, residential environment, and workplaces with the occurrence of breast tumor/cancer. The results showed that the risk of breast cancer in women who worked in risky workplaces from the normal state was 1.96 times higher than women who worked in non-risky workplaces (OR=1.96; 95% CI= 1.41 to 2.7; p<0.001). Suspected of tumor/cancer in the residential areas are inversely proportional to those not living close to the mining location (OR=0.86; 95% CI= 0.77 to 0.97; p<0.001). These findings suggest the important role of the environment in breast cancer incidence. Therefore, it is recommended to apply a healthy lifestyle, both physically and spiritually, and provide regular health screening.