The influence of urban design on neighbourhood walking following residential relocation: Longitudinal results from the RESIDE study

Abstract

The design of urban environments has the potential to enhance the health and well-being of residents by impacting social determinants of health including access to public transport, green space and local amenities. Commencing in 2003, RESIDE is a longitudinal natural experiment examining the impact of urban planning on active living in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. Participants building homes in new housing developments were surveyed before relocation (n = 1813; 34·6% recruitment rate); and approximately 12 months later (n = 1437). Changes in perceived and objective neighbourhood characteristics associated with walking following relocation were examined, adjusted for changes in demographic, intrapersonal, interpersonal and baseline reasons for residential location choice. Self-reported walking was measured using the Neighbourhood Physical Activity Questionnaire. Following relocation, transport-related walking declined overall (p < 0.001) and recreational walking increased (p < 0.001): access to transport- and recreational destinations changed in similar directions. However, in those with increased access to destinations, transport-related walking increased by 5.8 min/week for each type of transport-related destination that increased (p = 0.045); and recreational walking by 17.6 min/week for each type of recreational destination that increased (p = 0.070). The association between the built environment and recreational walking was partially mediated by changes in perceived neighbourhood attractiveness: when changes in 'enjoyment' and 'attitude' towards local walking were removed from the multivariate model, recreational walking returned to 20.1 min/week (p = 0.040) for each type of recreational destination that increased. This study provides longitudinal evidence that both transport and recreational-walking behaviours respond to changes in the availability and diversity of local transport- and recreational destinations, and demonstrates the potential of local infrastructure to support health-enhancing behaviours. As neighbourhoods evolve, longer-term follow-up is required to fully capture changes that occur, and the impact on residents. The potential for using policies, incentives and infrastructure levies to enable the early introduction of recreational and transport-related facilities into new housing developments warrants further investigation.

What’s the Score? Walkable Environments and Subsidized Households

“…Similar findings from a study based on a sample of 279 Irish adults found that residents living in walkable neighborhoods were more likely to know their neighbors, trust others, and be socially engaged compared with those living in car-oriented suburbs [49]. In addition to previous studies that are mostly cross-sectional, a few longitudinal studies also showed the substantial effects of walkable neighborhoods on social capital [50][51][52][53]. For example, a U.S. longitudinal study examined the impact of moving to a walkable neighborhood, Mueller, Austin, TX, on residents' social interactions and cohesion [54].…”

Translating active living research into policy and practice: One important pathway to chronic disease prevention

“…37 Natural experiments help evaluate legislation to create safe routes to school; 38,39 implementation of cycling infrastructure, 40 sub-division design codes, 41 or walking infrastructure; 37 and park renovations. 42 The UK Medical Research Council has published guidelines for designing natural experiments, 43 and the US National Cancer Institute has called for obesity policy research that includes natural experiments.…”

“…• detect small effects over time; 41,45 • incorporate policy-specific measures; 46,47 and • monitor implementation to learn what is needed to affect health outcomes. 47 Importantly, natural experiments are more likely to influence policy and practice when undertaken from the outset in partnership with policymakers and practitioners.…”

Developing and Assessing Alternative Land-Use Scenarios from the MOLAND Model: A Scenario-Based Impact Analysis Approach for the Evaluation of Rapid Rail Provisions and Urban Development in the Greater Dublin Region

“…For instance, Frank et al [103] found that residents of the mixed land-use neighbourhoods walk, bike and transit 2-3 times more and drive almost 60% less compared to those living in more sprawled and automobile-oriented areas. A study by Giles-Corti et al [104] indicated that overall health of residents improved if they moved from dispersed to more compact, walkable neighbourhoods. Sarkar et al [105] found that there is positive association between healthy weight and walkability; and therefore, higher residential density has beneficial effects on accumulated physical activity.…”