The Revitalist

Public health researchers at the University of Washington have released a study that concludes that more walkable neighborhoods have healthier residents (via CEOs for Cities). The study assigned Seattle area neighborhoods a walkability score based on residential, retail and commercial density and other factors and then tracked the health of a group of more than 900 elderly residents [text temporarily available]. The study concludes that where there are more destinations in a walkable radius and where the pedestrian environment is more attractive, people are more likely to walk for exercise and therefore improve their overall health. One of the authors says the study is "potentially important at the public health level when looking at the obesity epidemic and the epidemic of inactivity coming down the pike. The results suggest that as a society, we'd be better if we had more of these kinds of (walkable) neighborhoods."

This is an interesting follow up to Friday's post on walkability and public transit. That study concluded that street amenities aren't a major influence on people walking to the commuter rail in the morning. However, this article points out that people will walk more in their neighborhoods for exercise and socializing if the environment is right. The results of both articles suggest, though, that people won't walk if there is nothing to walk to: train station, grocery store, retail shops, park/garden, etc. So, denser, more varied neighborhoods aren't just good for the environment, they are good for our bodies—the data confirms what we suspected all along.