ABSTRACT
In the past decade, a new —eld of “active living research” has emerged studying the impact of the built environment on physical activity, particularly walking. This multidisciplinary —eld involves not only physical activity academics, but also researchers, practitioners, and policy makers from transportation, urban planning,
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 257 Walking as Physical Activity ................................................................................. 258 Theories that Underpin the Focus on the Environment ......................................... 258 De—ning Physical and Built Environments ............................................................ 259 The Built Environment and Walking ..................................................................... 259
Rise and Sprawl of Suburbia ............................................................................. 259 Consequences of Suburban Sprawl for Walking ...............................................260
Conceptualizing the Built Environment for Walking ............................................. 261 Land Use Patterns ............................................................................................. 261 Transportation System ....................................................................................... 263 Design Features .................................................................................................265
Measuring the Built Environment ..........................................................................265 Self-Report Data................................................................................................266 Environmental Audits ........................................................................................266 Objective Environmental Data (GIS) ................................................................ 267
Reviewing the Evidence: Built Environment Correlates of Walking .....................268 Walking for Transport .......................................................................................268 Walking for Recreation .....................................................................................269 Neighborhood Comparison Studies .................................................................. 270
Future Directions in Research and Practice Related to Built Environment and Health ..................................................................................................................... 271
