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Development of a Neighbourhood Walkability Index for Porto Metropolitan Area. How Strongly Is Walkability Associated with Walking for Transport?

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  • Ana Isabel Ribeiro

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
    Department of Public Health, Forensic Sciences and Medical Education, University of Porto Medical School, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal)

  • Elaine Hoffimann

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

The creation of walkable communities constitutes a cost-effective health promotion strategy, as walking is an accessible and free intervention for increasing physical activity and health. In this cross-sectional ecological study, we developed a walkability index for the Porto Metropolitan Area and we validated it by assessing its association with walking for transportation. Neighborhood walkability was measured using a geographic information system and resulted from the weighted sum of residential density, street connectivity, and a destination-based entropy index. The index was categorized into quintiles of increasing walkability. Among the 1,112,555 individuals living in the study area, 28.1% resided in neighborhoods in the upper quintile of walkability and 15.8% resided in the least walkable neighborhoods. Adjusted regression models revealed that individuals residing in the most walkable neighborhoods are 81% more likely to report walking for transportation, compared with those from the least walkable neighborhoods (odds ratio: 1.81; 95% confidence intervals: 1.76–1.87). These results suggest that community design strategies to improve walkability may promote walking behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Isabel Ribeiro & Elaine Hoffimann, 2018. "Development of a Neighbourhood Walkability Index for Porto Metropolitan Area. How Strongly Is Walkability Associated with Walking for Transport?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2767-:d:188593
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zelong Xia & Hao Li & Yuehong Chen, 2018. "Assessing Neighborhood Walkability Based on Usage Characteristics of Amenities under Chinese Metropolises Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Elaine Hoffimann & Henrique Barros & Ana Isabel Ribeiro, 2017. "Socioeconomic Inequalities in Green Space Quality and Accessibility—Evidence from a Southern European City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Natalia Distefano & Salvatore Leonardi, 2023. "Fostering Urban Walking: Strategies Focused on Pedestrian Satisfaction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Tarek Al Shammas & Francisco Escobar, 2019. "Comfort and Time-Based Walkability Index Design: A GIS-Based Proposal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Menno Luijkx & Marco Helbich, 2019. "Neighborhood Walkability Is Not Associated with Adults’ Sedentary Behavior in the Residential Setting: Evidence from Breda, The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Fernando Fonseca & Escolástica Fernandes & Rui Ramos, 2022. "Walkable Cities: Using the Smart Pedestrian Net Method for Evaluating a Pedestrian Network in Guimarães, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    5. Poklewski-Koziełł, Damian & Dudzic-Gyurkovich, Karolina & Duarte, Carlos Marmolejo, 2023. "Investigating urban form, and walkability measures in the new developments. The case study of Garnizon in Gdansk," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    6. Shaohua Tan & Fengxiao Cao & Jinsu Yang, 2020. "The Study on Spatial Elements of Health-Supportive Environment in Residential Streets Promoting Residents’ Walking Trips," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-33, July.
    7. Fernando Fonseca & George Papageorgiou & Simona Tondelli & Paulo Ribeiro & Elisa Conticelli & Mona Jabbari & Rui Ramos, 2022. "Perceived Walkability and Respective Urban Determinants: Insights from Bologna and Porto," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, July.

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