Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Road Runners

Abstract

Recreational road running is growing in popularity and has been linked to numerous mental and physical health benefits. However, we know little about what environmental preferences or concerns runners have regarding participation in the sport, and whether differences exist across age and gender. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on recreational road runners to investigate the type of built and natural environments road runners prefer, as well as the safety and health concerns that may affect runners’ choice of environment. Responses were analyzed by age and gender. A total of 1228 road runners responded to the survey; 59.6% of respondents were women and 32.1% of respondents were men. Most respondents preferred to run on asphalt or sidewalk surfaces, and preferred well-lit, tree-lined routes. Major concerns for both men and women include animals and dangerous road conditions. Men and women differed significantly in their responses to the importance of running around others and their primary concerns while running. Results of this study serve to deepen our understanding of recreational road runners’ environmental preferences and concerns, providing valuable information for public health officials and city planners alike. This information must be considered if we are to continue to encourage uptake of running as a sport and reap its health effects.

Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Running in Metro Vancouver: A Preliminary Analysis

“…The highest run volumes were found in areas consisting of green and blue space such as Stanley Park (a Vancouver park approximately 25% larger than Central Park) which includes a 10 km Seawall path). The observed behaviors of our study population align with the green space preferences of runners identified in previous surveys which emphasized tree-covered spaces and perceived greenness [ 1 , 32 ].…”

“…The concurrent influence of urbanicity and green space on route popularity could be explained by the presence of micro green spaces (i.e., pocket parks, community gardens) and tree-lined streets in population dense areas. Sidewalks and tree-lined streets, which are preferred characteristics identified in runner surveys [ 1 , 3 , 32 ], are scattered throughout Downtown Vancouver. Further, Downtown Vancouver and surrounding areas are composed of grid-like streets with high connectivity, which makes route creation and navigation easier for runners.…”

“…It is no surprise then that studies report that runners prefer greener and bluer routes [ 27 , 28 , 31 ]. A number of surveys found runners prefer routes that are quiet, close to green space, and have comfortable surfaces [ 1 , 3 , 32 , 33 ]. In addition to these surveys, a rough index of conducive running environments was developed based on findings in walkability literature; however, the index was limited by the lack of research on runner-friendly environments [ 9 ].…”

Motivation and Eco-Attitudes among Night Runners during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Basically, people do not complain about irritation or difficulties while running, pointing to poor lighting, dogs, bikes or cars as the only nuisance felt [42]. Interestingly, men and women differ significantly in their responses to the importance of running around others and their primary concerns while running [43]. The perceived characteristics of the environment are important determinants in the appeal and regenerative capacity of the running environment for both novice and experienced runners [44].…”

The effects of street environment features on road running: An analysis using crowdsourced fitness tracker data and machine learning

“…It has been demonstrated that high-quality green–blue space increase opportunities for citizens to jog outdoors (Karusisi et al, 2012; Schuurman et al, 2021). Blue spaces (including lakes, rivers, and landscaped ponds) are considered to be a visually appealing natural element that can boost the road running (Huang et al, 2022; 2023; Schuurman et al, 2021; Tan et al, 2021).…”