PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD DESIGN

In recession-hit, environment savvy Britain, it seems that cars are enemy number one. Unless you really need to, the pressure is on to keep the school run, local shop and commute to work a car-free zone. Cutting out car travel for short trips is supposed to reduce damage to the environment but what about the benefits for the car users themselves and the towns in which they live?

Concern is often expressed at the link between increase car use over short distances and the decline in local facilities, yet little is known about how often and by what means people access these facilities. Researchers from the University of the West of England, working as part of a consortium of universities in the SOLUTIONS project, have undertaken case studies in Bristol, Cambridge, London and Tyne and Wear to find out.

The researchers undertook major household surveys in three suburban neighbourhoods in each city area. The results showed a surprising variety in the behaviour of local people in each of the areas, influenced by their income, car ownership, local culture and spatial arrangement of the area but they also highlighted some important consistencies.

From this data the researchers were able to ascertain, for example, how far people normally walk to get to particular activities, how that varies for older people and what kind of localities are best at enabling high levels of local use and walking.

The researchers are now working on outline criteria for incorporating local facilities into neighbourhood design and make recommendations to reduce car use and encourage physical activity. Policy guidelines will be published later in the year

For more information contact Professor Hugh Barton: Hugh.Barton@uwe.ac.uk or link to www.suburbansolutions.ac.uk.