Perceived Neighborhood Environmental Attributes Associated with Walking and Cycling for Transport among Adult Residents of 17 Cities in 12 Countries: The IPEN Study
Introduction: Prevalence of walking and cycling for transport is low and varies greatly across countries. Few studies have examined neighborhood perceptions related to walking and cycling for transport in different countries. Therefore, it is challenging to prioritize appropriate built-environment interventions.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the strength and shape of the relationship between adults’ neighborhood perceptions and walking and cycling for transport across diverse environments.
Methods: As part of the International Physical activity and Environment Network (IPEN) adult project, self-reported data were taken from 13,745 adults (18–65 years) living in physically and socially diverse neighborhoods in 17 cities across 12 countries. Neighborhood perceptions were measured using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, and walking and cycling for transport were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Long Form. Generalized additive mixed models were used to model walking or cycling for transport during the last seven days with neighborhood perceptions. Interactions by city were explored.
Results: Walking-for-transport outcomes were significantly associated with perceived residential density, land use mix–access, street connectivity, aesthetics, and safety. Any cycling for transport was significantly related to perceived land use mix–access, street connectivity, infrastructure, aesthetics, safety, and perceived distance to destinations. Between-city differences existed for some attributes in relation to walking or cycling for transport.
Conclusions: Many perceived environmental attributes supported both cycling and walking; however, highly walkable environments may not support cycling for transport. People appear to walk for transport despite safety concerns. These findings can guide the implementation of global health strategies.
1Division of Behavioral Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; 2Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA; 3McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 4Pontiff Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil; 5Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia; 6Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 7Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; 8Human Potential Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand; 9Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; 10Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; 11Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia; 12Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; 13Nutrition and Health Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica (National Institute of Public Health), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; 14Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health (Austin Regional Campus), Austin, Texas, USA; 15Nutrition and Health Sciences, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 16School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; 17Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 18Institute of Active Lifestyle, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Recommended Citation:
Jacqueline Kerr,1 Jennifer A. Emond,2 Hannah Badl,et al. Perceived Neighborhood Environmental Attributes Associated with Walking and Cycling for Transport among Adult Residents of 17 Cities in 12 Countries: The IPEN Study[J]. Environmental Health Perspectives,2016-01-01,Volume 124(Issue 3):290