Land Use for Active Living
GOAL: To increase opportunities for physical activity, reduce pollution and improve economic development by providing more green space and , mixed-use development.
Land Use for Active Living
1. Re-Evaluate Urban Design and Comprehensive Land-Use Plans to Improve Active Living
The Issues and the Research: A neighborhood means that residents can easily walk or ride a bicycle from home to places they need to go, such as schools, shops and workplaces—whenever and as often as they want. A large number of studies have shown that adults living in neighborhoods are more physically active.1 Evidence also suggests that youth get more regular physical activity when they have opportunities to walk or ride a bicycle from home to school or other destinations.2 Not surprisingly, residents are more likely to walk or ride a bicycle if they have access to public transportation, and live in a city center, close to a grocery store, drug store or other businesses.3 In fact, according to one study, residents of communities with a mix of shops and businesses within easy walking distance have a 35 percent lower risk of obesity than residents of communities that do not have these services within easy walking distance.4 Furthermore, researchers who analyzed data from more than 3,000 youth in Atlanta determined that young people ages 5 to 18 are more likely to walk if they live in mixed-use neighborhoods with nearby schools, parks and businesses.5 A 2003 study of 448 metropolitan counties found that people who live in compact, higher-density counties are less likely to be obese and spend more time walking than people who live in more sprawling counties.6
Potential Stakeholders
Policy-makers
State and local elected and appointed officials
School officials (e.g., state boards of education, local school boards and school administrators)
Other Government and Community Stakeholders
Transportation officials
Planning officials
Parks and recreation officials
County and city health officials
Housing officials
Economic (re)development officials
Business owners
Community members
Policy and Program Options
Urban planning approaches
Local policy-makers can consider urban planning approaches that promote and enhanced community access to bicycle facilities and transportation elements that prioritize the interconnection between walking, bicycling and mass transit. For example, plans can assess the connection between public transit stations, sidewalks and bicycle routes to encourage public transit, walking and biking.
Mixed-use development
Local policy-makers can work with planners to foster , safe communities by locating businesses, recreation centers, parks, libraries and other facilities near public transportation and major roads. Local policy-makers, planners and school districts officials can consider siting new schools within a 15-minute walk to residential areas. If schools, offices and retail outlets are situated in proximity to each other, children and their families are more likely to have multiple transportation options.
Active transit-oriented development
Local and state policy-makers can consider adopting ordinances or implementing programs that encourage , which promotes the development of compact, pedestrian-friendly housing, offices and retail shops in close proximity to transit stations or stops. State policy-makers can adopt legislation that provides incentives for TOD. At the local level, policy-makers can adopt zoning overlays that provide around transit, lower parking requirements and provide other incentives to support higher density development that takes advantage of the investment in transit.
Form-based zoning codes
Local and state policy-makers can consider , which have become an increasingly popular approach to encourage the creation of communities where people want to live, work and play.
Additional incentives, ordinances for active living
Another option is a ordinance or an that encourages walkability and accessibility. Local policy-makers can consider using programs, where development rights are transferred from one district to another. Local policy-makers also can provide incentives and zoning ordinances to encourage the development of a variety of housing options, such as . They can provide developers with incentives, such as and fee waivers, and require developers to provide mixed-income housing opportunities.
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2. Improve Community Design Features to Encourage Physical Activity
The Issues and the Research: Almost two-thirds of youth fall short of meeting the U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation that they get 60 minutes of physical activity on most days.7 An analysis of studies in six communities found that, on average, residents in highly neighborhoods took twice as many walking trips as people in less neighborhoods–mostly to work or to run errands.8 Based on a thorough review of the evidence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends community- and street-scale urban designs and land use policies to increase physical activity.9
Potential Stakeholders
Policy-makers
State and local elected and appointed officials
Others Government and Community Stakeholders
Planning officials
Parks and recreation officials
County and city health officials
Community members
Policy and Program Options
Street and sidewalk accessibility
State and local policy-makers can improve the pedestrian experience in downtown areas and retail centers, and make entrances to civic buildings, such as schools, directly accessible for pedestrians. They can adopt a policy, develop a pedestrian master plan and/or a bicycle master plan, and examine the funding mechanisms to increase investment in pedestrian facilities.
Design guidelines to encourage activity
Local and state policy-makers can develop guidelines aimed at providing wider sidewalks, trees that shade parks and paths, benches for people to rest, off-street parking and walkways from parking to sidewalks—efforts that can contribute to higher rates of physical activity. In addition, state and local governments can lead efforts to create environments around historic and cultural features of the community. Local policymakers can adopt design and construction guidelines that make stairs more appealing and encourage people to use them. Signs could be placed near both elevators and stairs as well as in shopping malls, train and bus stations, schools and libraries.
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1 Heath G, Brownson R, Kruger J, et al. “The Effectiveness of Urban Design and Land Use and Transport Policies and Practices to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 3(1S): S55-S76, February 2006.
2 Giles-Corti B and Donovan R. “The Relative Influence of Individual, Social, and Physical Environment Determinants of Physical Activity.” Social Science and Medicine, 54(12):1793-1812, June 2002.
3 Ibid.
4 Designing for Active Transportation. San Diego: Active Living Research, February 2005.
5 Lopez-Zetina J, Lee H and Friis R. “The Link Between Obesity and the Built Environment. Evidence from an Ecological Analysis of Obesity and Vehicle Miles of Travel in California.” Health & Place, 12(4): 656-664, December 2006.
6 Ewing R, Schmid T, Killingsworth R, et al. “Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Physical Activity, Obesity, and Morbidity.” American Journal of Health Promotion, 18(1): 47-57, September/October 2003.
7 Eaton D, Kann L, Kinchen S, et al. “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States 2005.” CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 55(SS-5): 1-108, June 2006.
8 Saelens B, Salis J and Frank L. “Environmental Correlates of Walking and Cycling: Findings from the Transportation, Urban Design, and Planning Literatures.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 25(2): 80-91, Spring 2003.
9 Community Guide Branch, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Promoting Physical Activity: Environmental and Policy Approaches. February 10, 2009. Available at http://www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/environmental-policy/index.html.
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