The Association Between Walkability, Zoning Codes, and Neighborhood Wealth in Bergen County, NJ

Abstract

Walkability is the measure of how friendly an area is to walking, and is important due to the multiple economic, social, environmental, and health-related benefits of walkable communities. A wealth of literature exists on its impacts, however a gap remains in its association with income levels and the zoning laws which affect it. A correlational analysis of multiple factors of towns in Bergen County, NJ, using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, found that towns of higher income tended to be less walkable, due to low land use diversity, suggesting that these towns could increase their walkability through the incorporation of different types of land use, most notably, commercial zones. The results of this study could be used to advise the government of Bergen County on future redevelopment and provide valuable information for the creation of zoning laws for new developments in the U.S.