Neighborhood Walkability and Active Transportation: A Correlation Study in Leisure and Shopping Purposes.

Eun Jung Kim,Jiyeong Kim,Hyunjung Kim

doi:10.3390/ijerph17072178

Abstract

A walkable environment is a crucial factor for promoting active transportation. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between neighborhood walkability and active transportation for noncommuting purposes (leisure and shopping) in Seoul, Korea. The Walkability Score is used as a measure of walkability, and a multilevel logistic regression model is employed to measure the odds of active transportation (i.e., walking and cycling; nonmotorized trips) at two levels: individual (level 1) and neighborhood (level 2). The results of the study showed that the Walkability Score was significantly correlated with higher odds of active transportation in shopping models. Specifically, every one-point increase in the Walkability Score was associated with 1.5%–1.8% higher odds of active transportation in shopping models. However, there was no significant correlation between the two in leisure models. Meanwhile, individual characteristics associated with the odds of active transportation differed in the leisure and shopping models. Older age was positively correlated with the odds of active transportation in the leisure model, while females showed a positive correlation in the shopping model. Based on the study, urban and transportation planners can recommend urban policies to promote active transportation in an urban setting.

Highlights

An increase in sedentary behavior and a proportionate growth in chronic diseases have been considered the most critical public health issues in the modern world, prompting several researchers in the public health and urban planning fields to investigate the environmental impact of promoting higher levels of physical activity [1,2]
This study examined the correlation between the level of walkability and noncommuting trips by conducting multilevel logistic regression analysis with the two odds of active transportation for leisure and shopping purposes
The built environment plays a crucial role in promoting active transportation, and various efforts have been made to measure the correlation between neighborhood walkability and active trips

Summary

Introduction

An increase in sedentary behavior and a proportionate growth in chronic diseases have been considered the most critical public health issues in the modern world, prompting several researchers in the public health and urban planning fields to investigate the environmental impact of promoting higher levels of physical activity [1,2]. Among the different types of physical activities, walking and cycling are considered suitable for all age groups, given that they do not require special skills or facilities, and allow people to manage the intensity of their own movements [5]. Promoting physical activity can help prevent a rise in the overweight and obese population and reduce the risk of potential chronic ailments such as respiratory diseases and Type 2 diabetes, as well as mortality risk from cardiovascular diseases and cancer [3,6,7,8,9,10]. Enhanced physical activity can benefit mental health as it can improve emotions and the sense of recognition [11], reduce

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