Urban density, diversity and design: Is more always better for walking? A study from Hong Kong

Lü, Yi; Xiao, Yang; Ye, Yu

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.08.042

Cited by 101 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Some recent studies from other high-density cities in South America and Asia have also demonstrated non-significant or contrary findings [54,81,82,83,84,85], compared with those reported in Western countries, especially the United States and Australia [73,78]. It suggests more complex relationships between the three D’s approach and walking or physical activity, which may be moderated by local built environment and social contexts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

The Association of Urban Greenness and Walking Behavior: Using Google Street View and Deep Learning Techniques to Estimate Residents’ Exposure to Urban Greenness

Lü

2018

IJERPH

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Many studies have established that urban greenness is associated with better health outcomes. Yet most studies assess urban greenness with overhead-view measures, such as park area or tree count, which often differs from the amount of greenness perceived by a person at eye-level on the ground. Furthermore, those studies are often criticized for the limitation of residential self-selection bias. In this study, urban greenness was extracted and assessed from profile view of streetscape images by Google Street View (GSV), in conjunction with deep learning techniques. We also explored a unique research opportunity arising in a citywide residential reallocation scheme of Hong Kong to reduce residential self-selection bias. Two multilevel regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between urban greenness and (1) the odds of walking for 24,773 public housing residents in Hong Kong, (2) total walking time of 1994 residents, while controlling for potential confounders. The results suggested that eye-level greenness was significantly related to higher odds of walking and longer walking time in both 400 m and 800 m buffers. Distance to the closest Mass Transit Rail (MTR) station was also associated with higher odds of walking. Number of shops was related to higher odds of walking in the 800 m buffer, but not in 400 m. Eye-level greenness, assessed by GSV images and deep learning techniques, can effectively estimate residents’ daily exposure to urban greenness, which is in turn associated with their walking behavior. Our findings apply to the entire public housing residents in Hong Kong, because of the large sample size.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

The Association of Urban Greenness and Walking Behavior: Using Google Street View and Deep Learning Techniques to Estimate Residents’ Exposure to Urban Greenness

Lü

2018

IJERPH

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“…Similar concerns and negative consequences regarding declining walkability have also emerged in Chinese cities since China's economic reforms in the late 1970s [12][13][14]. For instance, the prevalence of obesity increased from 8.6% in 2000 to 12.9% in 2014, leading to increasing risks for non-communicable diseases [15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…A few studies from non-western countries also found similar results. For instance, Lu et al (2017) found that land-use mix and street connectivity were not significantly associated with any domains of walking while higher neighborhood density was negatively associated with recreational walking in Hong Kong [13]. Gomez et al (2010) proved no significant associations of land use or population density with physical activity in Bogota [33].…”

Section: Negative or Non-impact Of Land Usementioning

confidence: 98%

“…Although many Chinese scholars have acknowledged problems arising from rapid urbanization and urban expansion, most of them have focused on social differentiation, equality and justice [17][18][19][20]. In recent years, a few studies in relation to walkability have been conducted in large Chinese cities, such as Shanghai [14,21], Shenzhen [22], Hong Kong [13,[23][24][25], Xi'an [26], and Hangzhou [14]. Some inconsistent findings and even contrary conclusions have been found in the Chinese context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bourdieu (1984) proposes the term habitus and notes that it can guide people to think, feel and act in specific ways [32]. Different habitus with the local context (e.g., socially, economically and culturally) in developing countries may lead to different walking motivations and behaviors distinct from western ones [13,25,31,33,34]. Moreover, as found by Travlou (2006) and Ward Thompson (2007), playing in a natural environment in childhood was found to be an important factor for engagement in outdoor environments in later life [35,36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the Associations of Walking Behavior with Neighborhood Environments by Different Life Stages: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Smaller Chinese City

Sun

Lai

Bell

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Because of high population density and rapid urbanization, different human life stages have distinct growth experiences, leading to different lifestyles and age-spatial separation in the same neighborhood environment, particularly in smaller Chinese cities. The relationship of environment to physical activity may differ from western or larger Chinese cities. This study examined the associations of walking duration to the neighborhood environment and other factors, and explored the nuances of walking behavior for different life stages of adults in a smaller Chinese city, Yuncheng. An interviewer-administered questionnaire survey (n = 173) and face-to-face interviews (n = 19) were conducted in August 2017. Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression were performed to describe walking motivations, sociodemographic characteristics, neighborhood environments, and their impacts on walking duration across three life stages. The quantitative findings were followed by interviews to validate and interpret them. Our results showed no positive associations of land-use mix (LUM) and residential density on walking duration, and even inverse associations of LUM-recreation and LUM-education for specific life stages were identified. Younger people's walking behavior was more related to consumption amenities distinct from those of older people. Our findings suggest that using walkable neighborhood policies (e.g., high residential density and land-use mix) to increase physical activity might be ineffective in smaller Chinese cities.

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The Role of Urban Density and Land Use Planning in Keeping the Cities Healthy

Cheshmehzangi

2021

Urban Health, Sustainability, and Peace in the Day the World Stopped

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Urban density, diversity and design: Is more always better for walking? A study from Hong Kong

Cited by 101 publications

References 34 publications

The Association of Urban Greenness and Walking Behavior: Using Google Street View and Deep Learning Techniques to Estimate Residents’ Exposure to Urban Greenness

The Association of Urban Greenness and Walking Behavior: Using Google Street View and Deep Learning Techniques to Estimate Residents’ Exposure to Urban Greenness

Exploring the Associations of Walking Behavior with Neighborhood Environments by Different Life Stages: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Smaller Chinese City

The Role of Urban Density and Land Use Planning in Keeping the Cities Healthy

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