Research: Walkability Linked to Improved Public Health

New research affirms the connection between walkable communities and improved health outcomes for residents, reports Emilio Perez Ibarguen in Great Lakes Echo.

Researchers from Michigan State University wanted to understand the more specific factors that impact public health to better inform policymakers. Of the four factors that typically define walkability — size of blocks, proximity to transit stops, variety of business types, and variety of zoning types — “The density of street intersections – corresponding closely to the size of blocks in the area – had the greatest impact on obesity.”

The study also found that factors unrelated to urban design, such as socioeconomic status and race, had more significant impacts on health than walkability.

The article includes information about Michigan cities that are working to improve their walkability and make their streets safer for pedestrians. The small Detroit enclave of Hamtramck, population 28,400, is the most walkable in the state. While its small size is an advantage, the town has also taken actions such as allowing mixed-use buildings. But a lack of transit connectivity to bigger cities and other regions can stifle the potential of small towns, where people remain dependent on cars for transportation outside the city.