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The Built Environment and Walking Activity of the Elderly: An Empirical Analysis in the Zhongshan Metropolitan Area, China

Author

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  • Yi Zhang

    (School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, 200240 Shanghai, China)

  • Yuan Li

    (School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, 422 South Siming Road, 361005 Xiamen, China)

  • Qixing Liu

    (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Chaoyang Li

    (School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, 200240 Shanghai, China)

Abstract

Policies and interventions involving the built environment have become a promising opportunity for the promotion of walking as a sustainable transportation mode. Among voluminous literature, few studies were found that examined the association between the built environment and walking among the elderly in China. This study investigated the relationship between the built environment and the walking activity of the elderly based on data collected in Zhongshan Metropolitan Area, China. The results suggest that abundant sidewalks, dense bus stops, easily accessible commercial establishments, and ample green land space are potentially effective to enhance walking among the elderly, albeit to varied degrees. The compact urban form, which is considered as walkability in the western context, may not necessarily play a positive role in Zhongshan’s context. The findings provide insights into the policy-making to promote sustainable transportation modes and the design of interventions on health promotion of the elderly in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Zhang & Yuan Li & Qixing Liu & Chaoyang Li, 2014. "The Built Environment and Walking Activity of the Elderly: An Empirical Analysis in the Zhongshan Metropolitan Area, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:2:p:1076-1092:d:33206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Eun Jung Kim & Suin Jin, 2023. "Walk Score and Neighborhood Walkability: A Case Study of Daegu, South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
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    4. Zhao, Chunli & Nielsen, Thomas Alexander Sick & Olafsson, Anton Stahl & Carstensen, Trine Agervig & Meng, Xiaoying, 2018. "Urban form, demographic and socio-economic correlates of walking, cycling, and e-biking: Evidence from eight neighborhoods in Beijing," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 102-112.
    5. Hae Young Yun, 2019. "Environmental Factors Associated with Older Adult’s Walking Behaviors: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-45, June.
    6. Yang, Yongjiang & Sasaki, Kuniaki & Cheng, Long & Tao, Sui, 2022. "Does the built environment matter for active travel among older adults: Insights from Chiba City, Japan," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    7. Yi Zhang & Wei Wu & Yuan Li & Qixing Liu & Chaoyang Li, 2014. "Does the Built Environment Make a Difference? An Investigation of Household Vehicle Use in Zhongshan Metropolitan Area, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Ali Keyvanfar & M. Salim Ferwati & Arezou Shafaghat & Hasanuddin Lamit, 2018. "A Path Walkability Assessment Index Model for Evaluating and Facilitating Retail Walking Using Decision-Tree-Making (DTM) Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-33, March.
    9. Haruka Kato, 2020. "Effect of Walkability on Urban Sustainability in the Osaka Metropolitan Fringe Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Yi Lu & Guibo Sun & Chinmoy Sarkar & Zhonghua Gou & Yang Xiao, 2018. "Commuting Mode Choice in a High-Density City: Do Land-Use Density and Diversity Matter in Hong Kong?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, May.
    11. Wei Wu & Wanjing Ma & Kejun Long & Heping Zhou & Yi Zhang, 2016. "Designing Sustainable Public Transportation: Integrated Optimization of Bus Speed and Holding Time in a Connected Vehicle Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-15, November.
    12. Jiabin Yu & Chen Yang & Xiaoguang Zhao & Zhexiao Zhou & Shen Zhang & Diankai Zhai & Jianshe Li, 2021. "The Associations of Built Environment with Older People Recreational Walking and Physical Activity in a Chinese Small-Scale City of Yiwu," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, March.
    13. Qinglin Jia & Tao Zhang & Long Cheng & Gang Cheng & Minjie Jin, 2022. "The Impact of the Neighborhood Built Environment on the Walking Activity of Older Adults: A Multi-Scale Spatial Heterogeneity Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, October.
    14. Yi Lu & Long Chen & Yiyang Yang & Zhonghua Gou, 2018. "The Association of Built Environment and Physical Activity in Older Adults: Using a Citywide Public Housing Scheme to Reduce Residential Self-Selection Bias," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-13, September.
    15. Chuang Gao & Jiabin Yu & Xiaoguang Zhao & Haibao Wang & Zhiyong Liu & Yaodong Gu, 2022. "The Effect of Built Environment on Older People Leisure-Time Walking and Physical Activity in Different Sex Groups in the City of Ningbo, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-10, May.
    16. Mohammad Paydar & Asal Kamani Fard, 2022. "Walking Behavior of Older Adults in Temuco, Chile: The Contribution of the Built Environment and Socio-Demographic Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-23, November.
    17. Lanjing Wang & Chunli Zhao & Xiaofei Liu & Xumei Chen & Chaoyang Li & Tao Wang & Jiani Wu & Yi Zhang, 2021. "Non-Linear Effects of the Built Environment and Social Environment on Bus Use among Older Adults in China: An Application of the XGBoost Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-22, September.
    18. Yi Zhang & Xiaoguang Yang & Yuan Li & Qixing Liu & Chaoyang Li, 2014. "Household, Personal and Environmental Correlates of Rural Elderly’s Cycling Activity: Evidence from Zhongshan Metropolitan Area, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(6), pages 1-16, June.
    19. Xu, Jiwei & Liu, Yaolin & Liu, Yanfang & An, Rui & Tong, Zhaomin, 2023. "Integrating street view images and deep learning to explore the association between human perceptions of the built environment and cardiovascular disease in older adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    20. Mohammad Paydar & Asal Kamani Fard, 2021. "The Contribution of Mobile Apps to the Improvement of Walking/Cycling Behavior Considering the Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    21. Liu, Zhengying & Kemperman, Astrid & Timmermans, Harry & Yang, Dongfeng, 2021. "Heterogeneity in physical activity participation of older adults: A latent class analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

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