Thursday, August 7, 2008

Walkable Neighborhoods

A new study in the American Jounal of Preventative Medicine suggests "that older, walkable neighborhoods...aren't just convenient and cost effective, but healthier as well."

"Crunching data on nearly 500,000 Salt Lake County driver licenses, researchers documented a strong correlation between residents' body-mass index and the kind of urban environment they inhabit. Those who live in walkable neighborhoods are leaner than those in newer areas designed around automobiles, according to the study."

Click here for an article on the study.

Attributes of a walkable neighborhood:
* A center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street or a public space.
* Dense enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently. * Mixed income, mixed use, with businesses and residences located near each other.
* Parks and public space.
* Pedestrian-centric design, with buildings close to the street.
* Nearby schools and workplaces.

No comments: