Active Living by Design

Public health research shows that many people will suffer poor health consequences due to physical inactivity but few will participate in formal exercise programs. This network considers how to design communities and policies to encourage walking, biking, and other forms of daily physical activity. This network involves researchers and design professionals interested in physical activity barriers and supports for a wide range of individuals. Topics of interest include creating walkable pathways and destinations, understanding good bike paths, encouraging safe and inviting public housing green areas, and reducing automobile dependency, among others.

The Damaging Effect of Cul-de-sacs on Walkability

By: John Jensen

In: Seattle Transit Blog

"Earlier this year, the Harvard Business Review blog briefly featured a study that compared a neighborhood of suburban Woodinville to one in urban Ballard. The blue lines in the graphic above illustrate the 1 kilometer reach of a pedestrian walking from the red dot in the center. This so-called walkshed is an important measure of ability from one to get from point A to B and helps us explain why one who lives in Ballard is more likely to walk to the grocery store or the local park than one in Woodinville.

The graphic also explains to us why transit ridership in Ballard is likely to be much higher than ridership in Woodinville, and why Woodinville has more driving. The study notes that those who live in communities like the Ballard neighborhood above drover 26% fewer miles than those in cul-de-sac-based communities."

Active Living Research: Call for Proposals â Deadline May 14

Active Living Research is pleased to announce the release of our Call for Proposals (CFP) â Round 8. This call for proposals is the first to reflect a new emphasis for Active Living Research, which will focus on supporting research to inform policy and environmental strategies for increasing physical activity among children and adolescents, decreasing their sedentary behaviors and preventing obesity.