Do `walkable` neighbourhoods really get people walking?
Scientists are trying to determine if designing walk-friendly
neighbourhoods can really encourage people to walk more and
ditch the car. Researcher Marianne Clark in the Faculty of
Physical Education and Recreation interviewed 17 stakeholders in
neighbourhood development, including public health and municipal
employees, city councillors, and private sector stakeholders
including land developers and food `We asked about their
definition of a healthy neighbourhood. What they thought their
role was; what facilitated their efforts to build healthy
neighbourhoods and what barriers they experienced,` says Clark.
She found that while developers believe that it`s up to an
individual whether he or she wanted to walk regardless of the
design of the neighbourhood, municipal employees and public
health officials believed deeply in the value of these
neighbourhoods. The convenience of driving, space availability
and cold climate of a place are all factors that contri