Pedestrian Environment Data Scan Research Articles

Measuring walkability and bikeability for health equity and intervention research: a scoping review

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to describe self-report and audit-based measurement tools of neighbourhood walkability and bikeability for health equity and intervention research. We conducted a scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus with full text via EBSCO in March 2022. We extracted data from a total of 35 papers which reported on 23 self-report and 15 audit-based measures assessing walkability and bikeability. Studies spanned multiple regions including Africa, America, Australia, and Europe, but most were conducted in the United States (n = 15), followed by Australia (n = 6). The most used self-report measure was the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS), while the audit tools Pedestrian Environment Data Scan and Bridge the Gap Street Segment Tool were each used in two studies. The priority populations most often studied were residents of low socio-economic status/high disadvantage neighbourhoods, racialized groups, women, youth, older adults, and rural populations. Ultimately, there is no one tool that can be recommended for use in all contexts and with all priority populations; rather, tools may require adaptations to specific contexts and populations of interest.

Enhancing Walkability in Brick & Mortar Retail Markets: Case Study of Chaura Bazar, Ludhiana

Purpose – In success of brick and mortar (B&M) retail markets, pedestrian friendly urban design plays a pivotal role. Variables affecting walkability have significant social, economic and environmental benefits in B&M retail markets. Through qualitative analysis from field and public agency survey, this paper evaluates the walkability index of retail markets in and along, Chaura bazar road, Ludhiana. Design/ methodology/ approach – Safety, Comfort and Convenience are three important pillars for sustainable urban design for pedestrian in B&M retail markets. Multiple methods including Global walking Index (GWI), Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) and Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) are available to measure urban environment related to walking in particular region. For analysis of selected market, GWI method was chosen owing to the fact that it is the best worldwide applicable method to perform walkability qualitative analysis. Findings – Irrespective of the fact that pedestrians are the most important users in B&M retail markets, Walkability Index of study area is 27, which is minimal walkable range. Thus, to increase walkability, it is much needed for architects, planners and policy makers to implement actions to improve safety, comfort and convenience of pedestrian in all potential B&M retail markets. Originality – Walkability is one of the important concepts in urban planning and this paper highlights influencing factors to promote walking in B&M retail market. Indeed, in cities like Ludhiana, huge potential in retail industry is available, thus qualitative analysis of B&M retail markets is needed to attain a sustainable urban environment. Under scope, in terms of walkability, existing markets in Chaura bazar, Ludhiana have been analyzed.

Does a Pedestrian Environment Promote Walkability? Auditing a Pedestrian Environment Using the Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan Instrument

Abstract. This study was aimed at evaluating the pedestrian environment walkability from a residential area to a commercial area in Amherst, New York. An audit tool to record data of physical built environment elements was developed and tested. Data collection is integrated taking advantage of geo-spatial technology, so that pedestrian environment characteristics can be presented spatially. In this study, the Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan (PEDS) instrument was adopted to evaluate walkability in pedestrian environments. Thirteen variables were adopted to be used in this study: (1) segment type; (2) land use in the given segment; (3) slope; (4) segment intersection; (5) types of pedestrian facilities; (6) path condition; (7) number of trees shading walking areas; (8) crosswalks; (9) roadway/path lighting; (10) segment attractiveness for walking; (11) segment attractiveness for cycling; (12) segment safety for walking; and (13) segment safety for cycling. To collect and examine the data, the study integrated the audit tool with ArcGIS Online developed by ESRI. Overall, the selected road segments have the characteristics of a walkable environment between a residential area and a commercial area. The most convenient pedestrian environment was identified within the residential area because the sidewalks are attractive, are built on flat slopes, planted with dense shade trees, and have low-volume traffic. In the commercial area, the pedestrian environment is less attractive due to a lack of trees and less safety due to the mixed use of pedestrian pathways for store entrance. The results reflect the need for improvement of the audit tool in future studies. Keywords. walkability, GIS, environment audit, residential, commercial. Abstrak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi pejalan kaki lingkungan pejalan kaki dari daerah pemukiman ke daerah komersial di Amherst, New York. Alat audit telah dikembangkan dan diuji untuk mencatat data unsur lingkungan fisik. Pengumpulan data terintegrasi dengan keuntungan teknologi geo-spasial untuk mengelola analisis, sehingga karakteristik lingkungan pejalan kaki akan disajikan secara spasial. Dalam studi ini, instrumen PEDS (The Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan) diadopsi untuk mengevaluasi walkability di lingkungan pejalan kaki. Tiga belas variabel diadopsi dari PEDS yang akan digunakan dalam penelitian ini, sebagai berikut 1) jenis segmen; 2) penggunaan lahan di segmen tertentu; 3) kemiringan lereng; 4) segmen persimpangan; 5) jenis fasilitas pejalan kaki; 6) kondisi jalan; 7) jumlah pohon yang menaungi area jalan; 8) penyeberangan; 9) penerangan jalan / jalan; 10) daya tarik segmen untuk berjalan; 11) daya tarik segmen untuk bersepeda; 12) keamanan segmen untuk berjalan; dan 13) keamanan segmen untuk bersepeda. Untuk mengumpulkan dan memeriksa data, studi ini mengintegrasikan alat audit dengan ArcGIS Online yang dikembangkan oleh ESRI. Secara keseluruhan, ruas jalan yang dipilih memiliki karakteristik untuk lingkungan walkable antara kawasan perumahan dan kawasan komersial. Lingkungan pejalan kaki yang paling nyaman diidentifikasi di daerah pemukiman karena trotoarnya menarik, dibangun di lereng datar, ditanami pohon teduh yang lebat, dan memiliki lalu lintas dengan volume rendah. Di kawasan komersial, lingkungan pejalan kaki kurang atraktif karena minimnya pepohonan dan kurang aman karena penggunaan jalan pejalan kaki yang beragam karena pintu masuk toko. Hasilnya mencerminkan kebutuhan perbaikan alat bantu audit di masa depan. Kata Kunci: ramah bagi pejalan kaki, GIS, audit lingkungan, hunian, komersial Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA AR-SA /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language:IN; mso-fareast-language:IN;}

Assessing the validity of facilitated-volunteered geographic information: comparisons of expert and novice ratings

Facilitated-voluntary geographic information (f-VGI) is a promising method to enable systematic collection of data from residents about their physical and social environment. The method capitalizes on ubiquitous mobile smartphones to empower collection of geospatially-referenced data. It is important to evaluate the validity of user-generated content for use in research or program planning. The purpose of this study was to test whether the aggregated environmental (“bikeability”) ratings from novice community residents converges with ratings from experts using a robust research-based, paper audit-tool (the established Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) tool). Equivalence testing statistically showed overall agreement between the composite ratings of bikeability within the novice group. Agreement in categorical ratings between novices and experts were examined using the summary agreement index, which showed substantial agreement across the 10 locations rated by 11 novices using an f-VGI mobile application and four experts using PEDS; variability depended on the nature of the specific questions asked. Results reveal overall substantial agreement between novice and expert ratings for both composite scores and individual categorical ratings. However, additional research is needed to refine the methodology for use in formalized research applications.

Impact of Street’s Physical Elements on Walkability: a Case of Mawlawi Street in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

A pleasant walking environment is a precondition for living in a sustainable city. Appropriate street design can increase quality and quantity of walking. However, the adequacy and quality of physical elements as the most significant components of street can seriously affect walkability in the streets. The objective of this study was to critically assess the walkability level in terms of physical elements of Mawlawi Street, a famous commercial street located in the city center of Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. The qualitative research based on interview with locals, direct observation and quantitative research via questionnaire with pedestrians were conducted in this study. First, site observation was carried out through PEDS (Pedestrian Environment Data Scan) audit tool and the taking of photographs in order to observe the streetscape features. In this regard, four criteria as environment, pedestrian facility, road attributes, walking environment, and subjective assessment were considered as well serving the purpose of providing a broad direction about streetscape features. Then, a 5 point Likert scale questionnaire with pedestrians was conducted to triangulate the findings from observation. Later on, the findings were validated through an interview with locals regarding their subjective ideas about those criteria. The study showed that inadequate and poor quality of street’s physical elements changed the street to an unsafe and uncomfortable environment for walking with weak and low level of street connectivity and accessibility for pedestrians.

Disentangling Associations of Neighborhood Street Scale Elements With Physical Activity in Mexican School Children

Promoting outdoor play and participation in sports and organized physical activities in children may depend on neighborhood characteristics. This study investigated associations between neighborhood streets and physical activities among Mexican children ( N = 1,509, 6-11 years). Child sociodemographic characteristics and physical activity were measured in schools in Guadalajara ( n = 10), Mexico City ( n = 13), and Puerto Vallarta ( n = 3), Mexico, in 2012. Street segments within an 800 m radius around each school were measured using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan. Most (75.8%) played outdoors; 47.4% participated in sports and 40% in organized physical activities. Fewer path obstructions and more pedestrian amenities were associated positively with outdoor play. Greater street cleanliness, more pedestrian amenities, and more path obstructions were associated with less participation in sports or organized activities. Walkability was negatively associated with all physical activities. Fostering safe and appealing streets may help promote outdoor play time, but not sports participation, for Mexican children.

Does social support mediate the relationship among neighborhood disadvantage, incivilities, crime and physical activity?

ObjectiveNeighborhood disadvantage (ND), incivilities, and crime disproportionately impact minority women, discouraging physical activity (PA). Social support (SS) is a cultural tool promoting PA in minority women. Socially supportive environments may promote PA in disadvantaged neighborhoods, yet few studies have investigated the mediating role of social support among minority women. This study examined SS as a mediator among ND, incivilities, crime, and PA. MethodsThe Health Is Power study aimed to increase PA in African American and Hispanic Latina women (N=410) in Houston and Austin, TX. ND and crime data were taken from the National Neighborhood Crime Study. Incivilities were measured using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS). SS was measured using the Family and Friend Support for Exercise Habits scale and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was used to examine SS as a mediator following the Baron and Kenny method. ResultsND was negatively associated with PA and SS. SS was not a mediator as it was not significantly associated with ND, crime, and incivilities (F(3,264)=2.02, p>.05) or PA (F(1,266)=3.8 p=.052). ConclusionND significantly discourages PA and limits SS. Future research should focus on developing strategies to overcoming these negative environmental factors.

Youth walking and biking rates vary by environments around 5 Louisiana schools.

The prevalence of obesity in children is high, and many do not meet physical activity recommendations. The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program encourages school-aged children to walk and bike to school. We assessed the condition of the walking/biking environment around schools in Louisiana prior to the state's first SRTS program. Assessments were made at the neighborhood level with the Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan (PEDS) instrument, and at the school and individual levels using the National SRTS Center's teacher tallies and parent surveys. PEDS scores were developed to rate conduciveness to walking/bicycling of proposed SRTS routes. Sites' scores were compared with the percentage of students who walk/bike to school. Five schools in Louisiana were evaluated. Overall, more students walked (range: 2.4-17.4%) than biked (range: 0.3-4.5%) to school with more students walking home than to school. Predictors of walking/biking to school include distance from school, speed of traffic, school encouragement, and if a student asked permission. Sites with the highest PEDS score had the highest percentage of students who walked/biked to school. There is a role and a need for the SRTS program. The environment and other factors influence biking and walking to school.

Neighborhood walkability is associated with increased physical activity of women living in an urban area of Brazil (37.4)

Physical inactivity is one of the biggest risk factors for many chronic diseases and mortality, and is one of the most pressing public health problems today. Little is known about the relationship between the built environment and physical activity in mid‐ and low‐income countries. We investigated this relationship among urban Brazilian women living in Santos, Brazil, using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to measure physical activity (PA) levels collected through home interviews (n = 526). The Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan (PEDS) was used to calculate neighborhood walkability scores. After adjusting for age and educational level, high neighborhood walkability scores for pedestrian walkways ‐ no path obstruction, no garage entrance and stop signs ‐ was associated with PA (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.44‐6.46). Interestingly, the neighborhoods classified as safer through the walkability score was found to be associated with reduced PA level (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.11‐0.64). Women living in low‐income areas had less access to PA resources than women in high‐income areas. These findings highlight the importance of an intervention program with multilevel environmental strategies to improve pedestrian walkways and to evaluate their effects on individual behavior.Funded by: Sao Paulo State Foundation for Research Support. Process n 2011/05641‐9.Grant Funding Source: Supported by: Sao Paulo State Foundation for Research Support. Process n 2011/05641‐9.

Neighborhood Walkability

Given the health benefits of walking, there is interest in understanding how physical environments favor walking. Although GIS-derived measures of land-use mix, street connectivity, and residential density are commonly combined into indices to assess how conducive neighborhoods are to walking, field validation of these measures is limited. To assess the relationship between audit- and GIS-derived measures of overall neighborhood walkability and between objective (audit- and GIS-derived) and participant-reported measures of walkability. Walkability assessments were conducted in 2009. Street-level audits were conducted using a modified version of the Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan. GIS analyses were used to derive land-use mix, street connectivity, and residential density. Participant perceptions were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Audit, GIS, and participant-reported indices of walkability were calculated. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationships between measures. All analyses were conducted in 2012. The correlation between audit- and GIS-derived measures of overall walkability was high (R=0.7 [95% CI=0.6, 0.8]); the correlations between objective (audit and GIS-derived) and participant-reported measures were low (R=0.2 [95% CI=0.06, 0.3]; R=0.2 [95% CI=0.04, 0.3], respectively). For comparable audit and participant-reported items, correlations were higher for items that appeared more objective (e.g., sidewalk presence, R=0.4 [95% CI=0.3, 0.5], versus safety, R=0.1 [95% CI=0.003, 0.3]). The GIS-derived measure of walkability correlated well with the in-field audit, suggesting that it is reasonable to use GIS-derived measures in place of more labor-intensive audits. Interestingly, neither audit- nor GIS-derived measures correlated well with participants' perceptions of walkability.

Neighborhood Street Scale Elements, Sedentary Time and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Inactive Ethnic Minority Women

BackgroundCardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, excess percent body fat, high blood pressure, elevated resting heart rate and sedentary behavior have increased in recent decades due to changes in the environment and lifestyle. Neighborhood micro-environmental, street scale elements may contribute to health above and beyond individual characteristics of residents.PurposeTo investigate the relationship between neighborhood street scale elements and cardiometabolic risk factors among inactive ethnic minority women.MethodWomen (N = 410) completed measures of BMI, percent body fat, blood pressure, resting heart rate, sedentary behavior and demographics. Trained field assessors completed the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan in participants’ neighborhoods. Data were collected from 2006–2008. Multiple regression models were conducted in 2011 to estimate the effect of environmental factors on cardiometabolic risk factors.ResultsAdjusted regression models found an inverse association between sidewalk buffers and blood pressure, between traffic control devices and resting heart rate, and a positive association between presence of pedestrian crossing aids and BMI (ps<.05). Neighborhood attractiveness and safety for walking and cycling were related to more time spent in a motor vehicle (ps<.05).ConclusionsFindings suggest complex relationships among micro-environmental, street scale elements that may confer important cardiometabolic benefits and risks for residents. Living in the most attractive and safe neighborhoods for physical activity may be associated with longer times spent sitting in the car.

Concordance and Correlates of Direct and Indirect Built Environment Measurement among Minority Women

To measure the concordance of directly and indirectly measured neighborhood attributes and to determine the correlates of the concordance between directly and indirectly measured built environment attributes. Environmental cross-sectional design. Urban and suburban neighborhoods within Harris County, Houston, and Travis County, Austin, Texas. Community-dwelling African-American and Hispanic or Latina women. Physical activity resource accessibility, path maintenance, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities were measured directly and indirectly. Directly or objectively measured neighborhood attributes were measured by the Physical Activity Resource Assessment and Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan instruments. Indirectly measured or self-reported neighborhood attributes were measured by the International Physical Activity Prevalence Study environmental survey module. Logistic regression was used to measure the concordance between directly and indirectly measured neighborhood attributes with ethnicity as a covariate. Residual values were calculated to determine the strength and direction of concordance. Participants' (N = 409) average body mass index (BMI) was classified as obese (MBMI = 34.5 kg/m(2), SD = 7.9), and the mean body fat percentage was 42.8% (SD = 7.1). The correlates BMI, body fat percentage, physical activity, and ethnicity were not significantly associated with any built environment attribute or concordance value, and none of our models significantly predicted indirectly measured built environment attributes. Being less familiar with certain built environment attributes may not be associated with weight status or physical activity levels among African-American and Hispanic or Latina women.

Neighborhood factors influence physical activity among African American and Hispanic or Latina women

This study investigated the relationship between neighborhood street-scale elements, such as traffic lights and crossing aids, and physical activity (PA) adoption and maintenance in African American and Hispanic or Latina women. Women (N=309) participated in a 6-month intervention and completed baseline and post-intervention assessments of PA. Trained field assessors completed the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan in participants' neighborhoods. Adjusted linear regression models found attractiveness for bicycling significantly predicted post-intervention accelerometer-measured PA. Greater traffic control devices and crossing aids were associated with greater PA among women assigned to the PA intervention group, and greater street amenities were associated with greater PA among those in the comparison group. Neighborhood factors may interact favorably with behavioral interventions to promote PA adoption and maintenance, and should be considered in health promotion efforts.

A Statewide Observational Assessment of the Pedestrian and Bicycling Environment in Hawaii, 2010

Walking and bicycling are important but underused modes of transportation in the United States. Road design influences how much walking and bicycling takes place along streets and roads. Currently, numerous national policy initiatives, including Safe Routes to School and Complete Streets, are attempting to improve pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure and "friendliness." However, no state has completed a systematic assessment of its streets to determine how amenable they are to walking and bicycling. Our statewide study was undertaken to assess how accessible and friendly Hawaii roads are to these 2 activities. We randomly selected street segments in Hawaii's 4 counties and then completed objective assessments using the Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan. We audited 321 segments, and interrater reliability was adequate across all measures. Streets were coded as high (42.4%) or low capacity (57.6%) depending on how much vehicular traffic the street was designed to accommodate. Outcome measures included street accommodations (ie, sidewalks and crossing aids) and pedestrian and bicyclist use. Most high-capacity streets had sidewalks (66%). These sidewalks were usually in good condition, contiguous, and had traffic control devices and pedestrian signals. Most low-capacity roads did not have sidewalks (63.4%). Bicycling facilities were limited (<10%) on both types of roads. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic was related to mixed use, including both residential and retail space, and to pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure. Road segments in Hawaii with more infrastructure and types of use, including single-family houses, apartment complexes, restaurants, office buildings, and industrial buildings, are used more by pedestrians and bicyclists.

Neighborhood and PA: Neighborhood Factors and Physical Activity in African American Public Housing Residents

In the US, public housing developments are typically located in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods that may have poorer quality street level conditions, placing residents in neighborhoods that are less supportive for physical activity (PA). This study investigated the relationship of detailed, objectively assessed street-level pedestrian features with self-reported and measured PA in African American public housing residents. Every street segment (N = 2093) within an 800 m radius surrounding each housing development (N = 12) was systematically assessed using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS). Participants completed an interviewer administered International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short Form and wore a pedometer for 1 week. Women reported significantly less vigorous (mean = 1955 vs. 2896 METs), moderate (mean = 733 vs. 1309 mets), walking (mean = 1080 vs. 1376 METs), and total (mean = 3768 vs. 5581 METs) PA on the IPAQ compared with men (all P <.05). Women took fewer pedometer steps per day (M = 3753 vs. 4589) compared with men, but this was not statistically significant. Regression analyses showed that for women, lower speed limits were associated with vigorous; higher street segment density was associated with more moderate PA; lower speed limits, fewer crossing aids, and more lanes were associated with more walking; and, fewer lanes was associated with more overall PA. For men, fewer sidewalk connections were associated with more moderate PA; lower speed limits were associated with more walking; and, lower speed limits was associated with more overall PA. Neighborhood factors influence physical activity; in particular, lower speed limits appear most commonly linked with increased physical activity in both men and women.

Association of walkability with obesity in Baltimore City, Maryland.

To investigate the association between walkability and obesity, we studied adults residing in Baltimore City, Maryland, in neighborhoods of varying racial and socioeconomic composition. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 3493 participants from the study Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span. We used the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan to measure neighborhood walkability in 34 neighborhoods of diverse racial and socioeconomic composition in which the study participants lived. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine walkability scores. Multilevel modeling was used to determine prevalence ratios for the association between walkability and obesity. Among individuals living in predominately White and high-socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhoods, residing in highly walkable neighborhoods was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity when compared with individuals living in poorly walkable neighborhoods, after adjusting for individual-level demographic variables (prevalence ratio-[PR] = 0.58; P = <.001 vs PR = 0.80; P = .004). Prevalence ratios were similar after controlling for the perception of crime, physical activity, and main mode of transportation. The association between walkability and obesity for individuals living in low-SES neighborhoods was not significant after accounting for main mode of transportation (PR = 0.85; P = .060). Future research is needed to determine how differences in associations by neighborhood characteristics may contribute to racial disparities in obesity.

Reliability Test of an Established Pedestrian Environment Audit in Rural Settings

To test inter-rater reliability and internal consistency of a reduced-item version of an environmental audit tool for physical-activity resources in a rural setting. A cross-sectional design. Five rural school districts in western New York. A random sample of 391 street segments (i.e., the length of a street contained within a census block.) Fifty street segments were observed a second time for a reliability analysis. The Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan (PEDS), a previously tested instrument for conducting audits of the built environment for physical-activity supports, was used. Modifications were made for use in rural settings. Four tests of reliability (Kappa [κ]; prevalence-adjusted, bias-adjusted κ [PABAK]; percent agreement; and Spearman rho [ρ]) and one test of internal consistency (Cronbach α) were used. Nineteen measures were identified for their utility in the rural setting. These measures had an average κ of .43, an average PABAK of .72, and an average percent agreement of 86.2%, indicating good agreement. They were organized into four subscale areas that had Spearman ρ ranging from moderate (ρ = .38) to strong (ρ = .66). Alpha (α) values for the scale overall (α = .60) and subscales (range, .25-.66) suggested that items included were likely to be multi-dimensional. A simpler audit tool has been identified that might be more appropriate for use in the rural setting.

Neighborhood sampling: how many streets must an auditor walk?

This study tested the representativeness of four street segment sampling protocols using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) in eleven neighborhoods surrounding public housing developments in Houston, TX. The following four street segment sampling protocols were used (1) all segments, both residential and arterial, contained within the 400 meter radius buffer from the center point of the housing development (the core) were compared with all segments contained between the 400 meter radius buffer and the 800 meter radius buffer (the ring); all residential segments in the core were compared with (2) 75% (3) 50% and (4) 25% samples of randomly selected residential street segments in the core. Analyses were conducted on five key variables: sidewalk presence; ratings of attractiveness and safety for walking; connectivity; and number of traffic lanes. Some differences were found when comparing all street segments, both residential and arterial, in the core to the ring. Findings suggested that sampling 25% of residential street segments within the 400 m radius of a residence sufficiently represents the pedestrian built environment. Conclusions support more cost effective environmental data collection for physical activity research.

Physical Activity Resource Attributes and Obesity in Low-Income African Americans

More than two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, and African Americans are particularly vulnerable to obesity when compared to Caucasians. Ecological models of health suggest that lower individual and environmental socioeconomic status and the built environment may be related to health attitudes and behaviors that contribute to obesity. This cross-sectional study measured the direct associations of neighborhood physical activity resource attributes with body mass index (BMI) and body fat among low-income 216 African Americans (Mean (M) age = 43.5 years, 63.9% female) residing in 12 public housing developments. The Physical Activity Resource Assessment instrument measured accessibility, incivilities, and the quality of features and amenities of each physical activity resource within an 800-m radius around each housing development. Sidewalk connectivity was measured using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan instrument. Ecological multivariate regression models analyzed the associations between the built environment attributes and resident BMI and body fat at the neighborhood level. Sidewalk connectivity was associated with BMI (M = 31.3 kg/m(2); p < 0.05). Sidewalk connectivity and resource accessibility were associated with body fat percentage (M = 34.8%, p < 0.05). Physical activity resource attributes and neighborhood sidewalk connectivity were related to BMI and body fat among low-income African Americans living in housing developments.

The development and testing of an audit for the pedestrian environment

Recognizing the need for consistent, reliable, and efficient methods to collect information about the walking environment, the authors have developed and tested a complete environmental audit methodology—the Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan (PEDS). In this paper, the development of the audit methodology is presented, including the design of the instrument, the creation of training and supporting materials, administration, and integration with handheld technology. Various tests of inter- and intra-rater reliability of our instrument have been conducted, including individual audit measures and various approaches to administering the audit. The results indicate high reliability for most measures and confirmed administration procedures. The PEDS audit methodology provides a comprehensive method to evaluate pedestrian environments for academics involved with transportation and physical activity research as well as practitioners seeking to an assessment tool for prioritizing investments.