Citation:

Yngve, L., K. Beyer, K. Malecki, AND L. Jackson. The association between green neighborhood environments and active transportation. International Conference on Transport and Health, San Jose, CA, June 13 - 15, 2016.

Impact/Purpose:

To communicate research results on availability of green space and active transportation choices at a scientific conference.

Description:

Background: Urban nature is an important aspect of health-promoting environments. In particular, street trees and green space can provide a low cost approach to improving public health by promoting physical activity, improving mental health, and facilitating social cohesion. Active transportation, such as walking or biking, increases not only physical activity, but also exposure to the neighborhood environment. Though many factors may influence an individual’s mode of transportation, this study focuses on the cross-sectional association between neighborhood street environment and walking or biking as transportation using new detailed metrics of tree cover on walkable roads.Methods: Data on self-reported active transportation were from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) participants residing in Milwaukee, WI, and Green Bay, WI (n=712). Street trees were estimated using 1-meter resolution land cover data produced by the U.S. EPA’s EnviroAtlas tool, and NavTeq road centerlines for walkable roads. Percent tree cover along walkable roads was determined within road network buffers of 500 and 1000 meters from study participants’ home addresses. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between neighborhood environment and active transportation, controlling for socio-demographics such as poverty, education, job status, and race.Results: Study participants with less than 15% tree cover along walkable roads within 500 meters of their homes were approximately half as likely to choose active transportation once within a 30 day window than those with greater than 15% tree cover, adjusting for socio-demographics (odds ratio=0.50, 95% confidence interval [0.26, 0.96]). The association was similar using a 1000 meter buffer to assess tree cover along walkable roads (odds ratio=0.47, 95% confidence interval [0.21, 1.06]). Unadjusted crude results were consistent with adjusted results.Conclusion: The proximate neighborhood environment may influence an individual’s decision to choose active transportation. Study participants who live in neighborhoods with greater tree cover along walkable roads were more likely to walk or bike to work or to run an errand. This effect was significant for tree cover along walkable roads within 500 network meters of a participant’s home, but not within 1000 network meters, suggesting that the immediate environment may have a greater influence on transportation decisions or those choosing active transportation are more likely to choose neighborhoods based on aesthetics. However, more work on neighborhood preference is needed to understand these associations.This research has been reviewed and approved by EPA; it does not necessarily reflect Agency policy.

Record Details: