Running head: ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES

Health Promotion in Community Planning: Promoting Active Living through Development of Walkable Communities Brandi L. E. Miller Joella Show Ferris State University

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES Abstract Walkable communities promote active living by encouraging physical activity, such as walking

and bicycling for transportation. With the advent of automobiles, traditional neighborhoods were gradually replaced with suburban sprawl and inactive modes of transportation. Physical inactivity led to increased levels of obesity and other chronic diseases. Automobile exhaust polluted the air, and a social equity gap developed as the elderly and poor were subjected to unsafe conditions in non-walkable neighborhoods. As communities recognized the benefits of physical activity and a better built environment, they sought approaches to make their neighborhoods more walkable. Walkable community strategies include improving and expanding pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails), promoting mixed-use development, and enhancing traffic safety. Specific tools used to build walkable communities include complete street designs, pedestrian master planning, pedestrian and vehicular traffic law enforcement, and traffic calming. The promotion of active living through the development of walkable communities will help to combat obesity and other chronic health issues caused by sedentary lifestyles. Keywords: health promotion, community planning, active living, active transportation, walkable community, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES Health Promotion in Community Planning: Promoting Active Living through Development of Walkable Communities

Communities across the country are adopting plans to reshape their environment in ways that will reduce dependence on automobiles. Several concepts are central to this movement. Active living incorporates physical movement into daily routines by promoting active transportation, such as walking and bicycling, for recreation, exercise, and transportation (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Walkable communities facilitate pedestrian transportation though the development of mixed-use neighborhoods where homes, businesses, schools, and shops are located within walking distance and are connected by sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and trails (LHC, 2011). Also called traditional neighborhoods, walkable communities were the predominant neighborhood design prior to the advent of the automobile. After the introduction of automobiles, single-use zoning was introduced that separated living, industrial, and commercial entities. These suburban communities led to a less active lifestyle, with an increasing prevalence of obesity and chronic disease (LHC, 2011). Making the Case for Walkable Communities Health Effects of Inactive Living In 2012, physical inactivity was the fourth leading universal cause of death (Kohl et al., 2012). Chronic inactivity has led to unprecedented levels of obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years and more than one third of all American children are overweight or obeseTwo thirds of Americans age 20 or older are overweight or obese (AARP & WALCI, 2011, p. 7). In addition to obesity, physical inactivity is a risk factor for several other chronic diseases, including coronary artery disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and chronic

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES obstructive pulmonary disease (AARP & WALCI, 2011). According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute (WALCI), these diseases affect almost half of all adults in the United States (2011).

Physical inactivity affects the environment by increasing the need for motorized vehicles that produce toxic chemicals and reduce air quality (AARP & WALCI, 2011). People that live within 300 meters of a major highway are more likely to have asthma, leukemia, and cardiovascular disease. Health costs associated with poor air quality attributable to the transportation sector are estimated at $50 to $80 billion annually in the United States (AARP & WALCI, 2011). The prevalence of non-walkable, vehicle-oriented communities also contributes to a gap in social equity. Transportation costs represent a significant household expense, with the average American spending 18 cents of every dollar on transportation (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Low income families may not be able to afford vehicular transportation, and tend to stay at home more and walk to destinations. While this may increase physical activity, it also makes low income individuals more susceptible to unsafe conditions and poor air quality in non-walkable communities. Older populations, which often live on low fixed incomes, are over-represented in intersection fatalities by a factor greater than two (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Benefits of Physical Activity and a Better Built Environment According to the AARP and WALCI (2011), benefits of physical activity include a reduced risk of dying prematurely, dying from heart disease, and dying from diabetes. Physical activity also reduces the risk of colon cancer and high blood pressure and is important for weight control, bone and joint health, depression and anxiety prevention, and psychological well-being (AARP & WALCI, 2011).

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES Benefits of living in a better built environment include safer roads for pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicyclists and pedestrians have twice the risk of death in a non-walkable urban area (AARP & WALCI, 2011). People living in walkable communities drive half as far, walk and bicycle two thirds more often, produce half as much air pollution and consume half as much energy compared to their suburban counterparts (AARP & WALCI, 2011, p. 11). Barriers to Walkable Communities Since the advent of automobiles, communities have gradually evolved from mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods to suburban areas that give preference to automobiles (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Single-use planning has separated industrial, commercial, and residential properties, forcing residents to use cars to get to work, buy groceries, and run other errands. Schools are built on busy streets several miles away from the residential neighborhoods where school children live. There are not enough sidewalks or bike lanes available for residents to safely walk or bike to the park, library, work, shopping, or school. Busy roads and other driver distractions make pedestrian travel dangerous. In addition to these physical barriers, urban politics and budget constraints prevent implementation of walkable community projects (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Strategies to Create Safe Communities that Support Physical Activity Several approaches are available to foster more walkable communities. The CDC recommends that communities enhance pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks, bike lanes, trails), locate schools within easy walking distance of residential areas, improve access to public transportation, zone for mixed-use development, and enhance traffic safety in areas where persons are or could be physically active (Khan et al., 2009). These recommendations were selected based on the best available evidence because they affect a large portion of the

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES population, are within community control, can be implemented in varying communities, have meaningful health effects, and are sustainable (Khan et al., 2009).

Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC, 2011), an organization funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, has also published several strategies to promote active living. LHC (2011) encourages local governments to make roads and paths safer for bicyclists and pedestrians by adding or improving bicycle lanes, traffic signals, sidewalks, and crosswalks. LHC (2011) also recommends expansion of existing pedestrian networks, including bicycle lanes and trail connections. Urban planners are encouraged to re-evaluate urban design and update comprehensive master plans to improve active living. Improved community designs allow mixed-use development and include features to encourage physical activity (LHC, 2011). Tools to Build Walkable Communities Several tools have been developed to help communities implement active living strategies. Complete streets describe roads that are designed for all users, both pedestrian and vehicular (AARP & WALCI, 2011). These streets include sidewalks and street trees to promote comfortable pedestrian use. By implementing a complete streets policy, communities make pedestrian and public transportation more convenient, easy, and safe (AARP & WALCI, 2011). According to the AARP and WALCI (2011), walkable communities economically outperform more modern, car-oriented communities. Therefore, communities should encourage walkability through development of a comprehensive pedestrian master plan that establishes policies to enhance pedestrian safety, comfort, and access (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Enforcement is one of the most critical factors in street safety and must concentrate on intersections and roadways with the highest crash rates (AARP & WALCI, 2011). An enforcement program must evaluate motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians to determine if they are

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES anticipating and accommodating for each other appropriately. While most enforcement programs focus on aggressive and unsafe motor vehicle drivers, a more effective program also examines pedestrian behaviors to discourage aggressive and dangerous pedestrian activities (walking into a stream of traffic or disobeying crossing signals) (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Traffic calming uses engineering and other tools to control traffic speeds and encourage safe driving behavior (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Common traffic calming measures used in

walkable communities include road diets, mini-circles, roundabouts, medians, bulb-outs, and onstreet parking. Road diets eliminate travel lanes to improve pedestrian safety. Mini-circles and roundabouts promote circular flow of intersection traffic without requiring traffic signals or stop signs. While these features reduce vehicle speeds and thus improve pedestrian safety, they also increase intersection carrying capacity and reduce delays for everyone. Medians (addition of green space in the middle of the roadway) and bulb-outs (addition of green space at intersections to protect parked vehicles) lower speeds and shorten pedestrian crossing distances. On-street parking visually narrows the roadway, lowers speeds, and provides a buffer between the sidewalk and travel lanes (AARP & WALCI, 2011). Conclusion In many cities, the traditional neighborhood has been replaced by suburban sprawl, leading to more automobile travel and a less active lifestyle. Physical inactivity contributes to obesity and other chronic diseases, facilitates environmental decline through increased use of motorized vehicles, and intensifies the social equity gap (AARP & WALCI, 2011). To reverse this trend, strategies and tools to increase walkability and promote active transportation have been developed by several organizations. By supporting active living, walkable communities help to combat the chronic health challenges caused by sedentary lifestyles.

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES References American Association of Retired Persons [AARP] & Walkable and Livable Communities

Institute [WALCI]. (2011). From inspiration to action: Implementing projects to support active living. Retrieved from http://www.walklive.org/download-from-inspiration-toaction/#formBuilderCSSIDDownload_From_Inspiration_to_Action_form?PHPSESSID= 9k1jp6jm75bjhs2k04874m5jc7 Khan, L. K., Sobush, K., Keener, D., Goodman, K., Lowry, A., Kakietek, J., & Zaro, S. (2009). Recommended community strategies and measurements to prevent obesity in the United States. MMWR Recommendations & Reports, 58(7), 1-29. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5807.pdf Kohl, H. W., Craig, C. L., Lambert, E. V., Inoue, S., Alkandari, J. R., Leetongin, G., & Kahlmeier, S. (2012). The pandemic of physical inactivity: global action for public health. The Lancet, 380, 294-305. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60898-8 Leadership for Healthy Communities [LHC]. (2011). Action strategies toolkit. Retrieved from http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/images/stories/LHC_Action_Strategies _Toolkit_100222%5B1%5D.pdf

ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH WALKABLE COMMUNITIES

N310 Health Promotion Research Paper Grading Rubric

Student Names:

Brandi Miller & Joella Show Content Criteria Points Points

Available Awarded 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Question at issue: Is the topic clearly identified? Can the reader readily 10 identify the focus of the paper? Information: Is the key information for the topic included and adequately sourced? Point of view: Are the key viewpoints articulated and examined? Assumptions: What underlying assumptions are foundational to this issue? What does the reader need to understand about the issue? Concepts: Are the key concepts of the topic identified? Is their relevance clear? Purpose: What is the purpose in examining this topic? Why is it important to nurses and nursing? To clinical populations? Inference: What is the logical interpretation of the data about this issue? Implications/consequences: What are the likely outcomes of the various positions on this issue? Format Criteria APA considerations, Intellectual Standards, Format (abstract, introduction, references, spelling, grammar, etc.) Total 20 100 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

20 100

Headings within the paper should reflect the content of the paper and not the elements of reasoning or intellectual standards. The grading will take into account acceptable writing standards.

Comments: Your paper was very well written. All topic areas were covered well.