Citation

Brown BB, Smith KR, Tharp D, Werner CM, Tribby CP, Miller HJ, Jensen W. J. Phys. Act. Health 2016; 13(11): 1210-1219.

Affiliation

Dept of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/jpah.2016-0066

PMID

27334024

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Complete streets require evaluation to determine if they encourage active transportation.

METHODS: Data were collected before and after a street intervention provided new light rail, bike lanes, and better sidewalks in Salt Lake City, Utah. Residents living near (<800 m) and far (≥801-2000 m) from the street were compared, with sensitivity tests for alternative definitions of near (<600 and <1000 m). Dependent variables were accelerometer/global positioning system (GPS) measures of transit trips, non-transit walking trips, and biking trips that included the complete street corridor.

RESULTS: Active travel trips for Near-Time 2 residents, the group hypothesized to be the most active, were compared to the other three groups (Near-Time 1, Far-Time 1, and Far-Time 2), net of control variables. Near-Time 2 residents were more likely to engage in complete street transit walking trips (35%, adjusted) and non-transit walking trips (50%) than the other three groups (24-25% and 13-36%, respectively). Bicycling was less prevalent, with only one of three contrasts significant (10% of Near-Time 2 residents had complete street bicycle trips compared to 5% of Far-Time 1 residents).

CONCLUSIONS: Living near the complete street intervention supported more pedestrian use and possibly bicycling, suggesting complete streets are also public health interventions.

Language: en