Defining Mixed-Use: Which Land Uses Promote Walking?

Abstract

Though researchers have explored the general impacts of mixed use development on physical activity, few have examined which specific land uses should be mixed. This study addresses this gap by examining the influence of the presence, intensity and diversity of land uses on utilitarian walking. Built environment data was related to utilitarian walking for individuals (n=251) in Montgomery County, Maryland. For a variety of land uses including banks, bus stops, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, libraries, rail stations, offices, parks, recreation centers, non-fast food restaurants, retail, schools, sports facilities, night uses, physical activity uses and social uses, exposure measures included the distance from participants’ homes to the closest instance of each land use (presence), the number of instances of each land use (intensity), and the number of different land uses present (diversity), all within circles of ½ and ¼ mile radii from participants’ residences. Distances to banks, bus stops, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, rail stations, night uses, physical activity uses, recreational facilities, restaurants, social uses and sports facilities were negatively associated with transportation walking. The intensities of bus stops, grocery stores, offices, and retail stores were positively correlated with utilitarian walking. Furthermore, a dose-response relationship between land use diversity and walking for transport was detected. Results suggest that planners, policymakers and developers can encourage physical activity and promote walking as a travel mode choice through the careful design of mixed-use developments.

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