Current neighborhood walkability research falls short in addressing diverse ages and abilitiesThis review of the literature focuses on research relating to walkable neighborhoods, defined as neighborhoods “that are pedestrian focused, affording people the choice and opportunity to move about safely and effortlessly to services, facilities, and transport in their neighborhood without the use of a motor vehicle.” This comprehensive review addressed the following questions: (1) How well do research designs and methods capture diverse abilities and ages? (2) What are the characteristics of walkable neighborhoods for those of different ages and abilities? (3) What gaps remain relating to planning walkable neighborhoods that are responsive to human diversity?
The literature search included English language studies from the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, plus Europe and Asia. Studies with a focus on physical activity and chronic disease rather than the built environment were not included. Ninety-six peer-reviewed journal articles published from 2000 to 2016 were identified and analyzed. Most of the articles were published in health journals as opposed to planning journals, suggesting a possible lack of investigation of age- and ability-related concerns by planning researchers. There were no studies of walkability across all age-groups of children and young people, adults, and seniors that included people with various impairments. This gap in the literature may be a reason for the lack of detail in planning policy and guidelines addressing the needs and interests of people of different ages and abilities.
An analysis of the methods used to determine neighborhood walkability indicates that research into the everyday practice of walking is significantly underdeveloped, especially in the lives of people of diverse ages and abilities. This failure to address diversity in current research has potentially resulted in practices and guidelines that perpetuate the exclusion of spatially marginalized groups. This review raises questions about who is ignored by traditional research methods and calls attention to the omission of walkability-related influences other than distance (such as weather, incline, walking speed, etc.).
This review highlights the need to use multiple methods for assessing neighborhood walkability -- including participatory and lived approaches – to gain a better understanding of the complexity and interrelationships of people’s behavior in particular environments. The researchers call for a more integrated research approach inclusive of people with a range of abilities and impairments across ages. Such research can be invaluable in generating more inclusive and detailed guidelines for walkable neighborhoods that are socially and spatially just for everyone.
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