Understanding inequities in walkability at the local scale in San Francisco

Keywords: Health disparities, Built Environment, Health Geography
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 23

Abstract

Walkability, a measure that determines how individuals experience streetscapes when walking, is an important correlate of physical and mental health among community residents. Previous studies have shown positive associations between walkability and better health, such as lower risk of cancer, and depression. Walkability can be assessed by measuring certain environmental factors, such as the conditions of neighborhood streets, building aesthetics, access to amenities, and local land uses. However, few studies have analyzed associations between walkability, racial composition, and education. Using data from the 2019-2020 Bay Area Young Adult Health Study we created a walkability index to understand spatial differences in walkability by race/ethnicity and education. For this study, “neighborhoods” were randomly selected census blocks in San Francisco County assessed by Research Assistants who walked and then completed a questionnaire for each block. We spatially interpolated the resulting data, and generated a walkability surface using assessments of aesthetics, safety, and land use. These data were aggregated to the block group level and linked to 2015-2019 American Community Survey data to determine the relationship between walkability and racial/ethnic composition and educational attainment. Using Geographically Weighted Regression, we found better walkability to be inversely associated with spatial concentrations of Black and Asian residents (p <.05), with the level of walkability decreasing as the percentage of the Black or Asian population increased. We also found a significant positive association between walkability and education. Our findings indicate a need for greater local investment in neighborhoods with higher proportions of minoritized and less educated residents.