Commentaries on Physical Activity and Health
Environment and Culture: The Importance of Walking and Walkability
A Conversation with NiCole Keith, PhD, FACSM
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, School of Health and Human Sciences; Research Scientist, IU Center for Aging Research; Investigator, Regenstrief Institute, Incorporated; Professor, Department of Kinesiology
How do you view the role of physical environments when it comes to walking and walkability?
“It’s everything. Physical environments are everything to walking and walkability. If the environment is safer, or perceived to be safer, people are more likely to walk. If people can cross intersections, and feel safe in doing so, they’re more likely to walk. If the environment is pleasant, when there is something to see or do or there is a destination to go to, people are more likely to walk. Our campus incentivizes us to walk by discouraging us from driving – there is no place to park. Every day I walk 2 to 2.5 miles because I would rather spend my time walking than looking for a parking spot and burning gas. But I’m able to do this because there is a bike path, and a sidewalk, and grass between me and the traffic, the intersections are well painted and there are supports for crossing the street.”
How do the social and cultural environments in a community impact walkability and perceived walkability?
“When people are out walking, serving as walking role models, the likelihood that others will walk is higher. As young people see other young people walking they’re more likely to walk, and it’s the same across all age groups. I think this is especially true for older adults. The more that older adults can see their peers walking, and understand where they can walk safely, the more likely they are to join.
The acceptability of walking is a cultural norm for some, but not others. The dean of the school of public health at a university in Kenya, told me that she typically walks about a mile to work. But, in Kenya, everyone who has a car drives. It took about 6 months of daily walking for people to stop offering her rides as they passed her on the street. I’ve also heard from people who are originally from Latin American countries that there is a perception that people walk because they can’t afford a car. This isn’t my experience in my community where walking is viewed as good for you, so you see many people doing it. However, there are opportunities in other cultures and communities to promote walking.”
Oftentimes we think about environments as stable or long term barriers, but you recently had an experience with a more temporary walking barrier – road construction. How did this impact walking in your community?
“I recently attended a meeting at another office downtown and had to walk under a highway overpass to get to my destination. There was only one way to get between point A and point B, but the sidewalk was completely blocked due to road construction. There was simply a sign indicating “Sidewalk Closed”, but the sidewalk was there for a reason! The only way to get where I needed to go was to walk in the middle of the street, which is dangerous. For the car traffic there were would be all sorts of detours telling drivers where to go, but for pedestrians that often does not exist. Pedestrians are forced to figure it out, and count on drivers to see us when we’re figuring that out.”
In what ways do these temporary projects need to consider the full spectrum of individuals when determining solutions?
A lot of construction is happening in America’s inner city communities as community development or improvement occurs. The construction can be great for the residents, especially when planners and developers make specific efforts to ensure community residents are able to afford to stay. However, while communities are being improved, residents are being put at risk in another way. It’s troubling – I wish that as these projects are being planned, someone would think about the people trying to ride their bikes or walk for recreation or active transportation. Where are they going to go when the sidewalk is closed, or when the two-lane street turns into one, or when there are no bike lanes? Alternate routes are considered for cars, and solved with detours – where are the pedestrian detours?
Short-term construction can also impact people with disabilities. Recently there was construction near the entrance of a nearby hospital. Well before the point at which you would have to make a decision, there was a sign that read, “Sidewalk closed ahead no ADA access”. This way someone in a wheelchair will see the sign and not go that way, it alerted the individual before the barrier was presented so it could be avoided. I had never seen that before, it was very refreshing!”
What other issues need to be addressed related to environments and culture around walking and walkability?
“When I think about injuries and fatalities, I’m always amazed at how the pedestrian is always blamed. For example, a student on campus was killed last year, after being hit by a school bus. Afterwards, I heard people say, “How did she not hear the school bus coming?” Meanwhile I’m thinking, I don’t know the answer to that question, but why is that her responsibility? The school bus turned left into her and struck her. I wonder why our first question isn’t, “Why didn’t the school bus look to see if there was a pedestrian in the walkway?” Alternatively, I’ll see someone in a wheelchair in the street because there is no sidewalk and someone will make a comments about, “How do they expect not to get hit?” They should expect not to get hit! There is no sidewalk there, how else are they supposed to get where they’re going? I continue to be frustrated with the way that society manages to blame the pedestrian when things like this happen!”
“Walking is often touted as one of the most accessible methods of health promotion and 95% of Americans older than age 2 years can walk. However, access to walking is influenced by both cultural and physical environments. Strategic attention to and promotion of factors that positively impact walking are necessary in order to continually improve the walkability of communities and the number of people who walk in order to improve their personal health.”