Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres
Abstract Background Evidence-based metrics are needed to inform urban policy to create healthy walkable communities. Most active living research has developed metrics of the environment around residential addresses, ignoring other important walking locations. Therefore, this study examined: metrics...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-017-0621-9 |
| _version_ | 1828531455465095168 |
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| author | Lucy Dubrelle Gunn Suzanne Mavoa Claire Boulangé Paula Hooper Anne Kavanagh Billie Giles-Corti |
| author_facet | Lucy Dubrelle Gunn Suzanne Mavoa Claire Boulangé Paula Hooper Anne Kavanagh Billie Giles-Corti |
| author_sort | Lucy Dubrelle Gunn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Evidence-based metrics are needed to inform urban policy to create healthy walkable communities. Most active living research has developed metrics of the environment around residential addresses, ignoring other important walking locations. Therefore, this study examined: metrics for built environment features surrounding local shopping centres, (known in Melbourne, Australia as neighbourhood activity centres (NACs) which are typically anchored by a supermarket); the association between NACs and transport walking; and, policy compliance for supermarket provision. Methods In this observational study, cluster analysis was used to categorize 534 NACs in Melbourne, Australia by their built environment features. The NACS were linked to eligible Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel Activity 2009-2010 (VISTA) survey participants (n=19,984). Adjusted multilevel logistic regressions estimated associations between each cluster typology and two outcomes of daily walking: any transport walking; and, any ‘neighbourhood’ transport walking. Distance between residential dwellings and closest NAC was assessed to evaluate compliance with local planning policy on supermarket locations. Results Metrics for 19 built environment features were estimated and three NAC clusters associated with walkability were identified. NACs with significantly higher street connectivity (mean:161, SD:20), destination diversity (mean:16, SD:0.4); and net residential density (mean:77, SD:65) were interpreted as being ‘highly walkable’ when compared with ‘low walkable’ NACs, which had lower street connectivity (mean:57, SD:15); destination diversity (mean:11, SD:3); and net residential density (mean:10, SD:3). The odds of any daily transport walking was 5.85 times higher (95% CI: 4.22, 8.11), and for any ‘neighborhood’ transport walking 8.66 (95% CI: 5.89, 12.72) times higher, for residents whose closest NAC was highly walkable compared with those living near low walkable NACs. Only highly walkable NACs met the policy requirement that residents live within 1km of a local supermarket. Conclusions Built environment features surrounding NACs must reach certain levels to encourage walking and deliver walkable communities. Research and metrics about the type and quantity of built environment features around both walking trip origins and destinations is needed to inform urban planning policies and urban design guidelines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:37:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3d3af6fbe0147d39f3eff65065c7189 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:37:52Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3d3af6fbe0147d39f3eff65065c71892022-12-22T00:47:54ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682017-12-0114111210.1186/s12966-017-0621-9Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centresLucy Dubrelle Gunn0Suzanne Mavoa1Claire Boulangé2Paula Hooper3Anne Kavanagh4Billie Giles-Corti5Healthy Liveable Cities Group, Centre for Urban Research, College for Design and Social Context, Royal Melbourne Institute of TechnologyNoncommunicable Disease Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of MelbourneHealthy Liveable Cities Group, Centre for Urban Research, College for Design and Social Context, Royal Melbourne Institute of TechnologyCentre for the Built Environment and Health, School of Earth and Environment and School of Sports Science, Exercise & Health, University of Western AustraliaGender and Women’s Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of MelbourneHealthy Liveable Cities Group, Centre for Urban Research, College for Design and Social Context, Royal Melbourne Institute of TechnologyAbstract Background Evidence-based metrics are needed to inform urban policy to create healthy walkable communities. Most active living research has developed metrics of the environment around residential addresses, ignoring other important walking locations. Therefore, this study examined: metrics for built environment features surrounding local shopping centres, (known in Melbourne, Australia as neighbourhood activity centres (NACs) which are typically anchored by a supermarket); the association between NACs and transport walking; and, policy compliance for supermarket provision. Methods In this observational study, cluster analysis was used to categorize 534 NACs in Melbourne, Australia by their built environment features. The NACS were linked to eligible Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel Activity 2009-2010 (VISTA) survey participants (n=19,984). Adjusted multilevel logistic regressions estimated associations between each cluster typology and two outcomes of daily walking: any transport walking; and, any ‘neighbourhood’ transport walking. Distance between residential dwellings and closest NAC was assessed to evaluate compliance with local planning policy on supermarket locations. Results Metrics for 19 built environment features were estimated and three NAC clusters associated with walkability were identified. NACs with significantly higher street connectivity (mean:161, SD:20), destination diversity (mean:16, SD:0.4); and net residential density (mean:77, SD:65) were interpreted as being ‘highly walkable’ when compared with ‘low walkable’ NACs, which had lower street connectivity (mean:57, SD:15); destination diversity (mean:11, SD:3); and net residential density (mean:10, SD:3). The odds of any daily transport walking was 5.85 times higher (95% CI: 4.22, 8.11), and for any ‘neighborhood’ transport walking 8.66 (95% CI: 5.89, 12.72) times higher, for residents whose closest NAC was highly walkable compared with those living near low walkable NACs. Only highly walkable NACs met the policy requirement that residents live within 1km of a local supermarket. Conclusions Built environment features surrounding NACs must reach certain levels to encourage walking and deliver walkable communities. Research and metrics about the type and quantity of built environment features around both walking trip origins and destinations is needed to inform urban planning policies and urban design guidelines.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-017-0621-9Transport walkingPlanning policyBuilt environmentUrban designNeighbourhood activity/town centreCluster analysis |
| spellingShingle | Lucy Dubrelle Gunn Suzanne Mavoa Claire Boulangé Paula Hooper Anne Kavanagh Billie Giles-Corti Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Transport walking Planning policy Built environment Urban design Neighbourhood activity/town centre Cluster analysis |
| title | Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres |
| title_full | Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres |
| title_fullStr | Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres |
| title_full_unstemmed | Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres |
| title_short | Designing healthy communities: creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres |
| title_sort | designing healthy communities creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres |
| topic | Transport walking Planning policy Built environment Urban design Neighbourhood activity/town centre Cluster analysis |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-017-0621-9 |
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