The changing ethno-racial profile of “very walkable” urban neighborhoods in the U.S. (2010-2020): Are minorities being excluded?

Keywords: walkability, urban, walk score, pedestrian, equity, social justice, urban design, walkable
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 62

Abstract

Walkability, which may be broadly described as the propensity of place to encourage and support walking behavior, has increasingly been viewed as both a “quality of place” and “quality of life” amenity, capable of conferring substantial health, social, and economic benefits. Research has indicated that residents of more walkable neighborhoods exercise more and have a lower incidence of sedentary and cardio-metabolic diseases, have higher social capital and are more engaged in their community, and have better access to cost-saving public transit options. Given these benefits, it is perhaps not surprising that neighborhood walkability often correlates positively with home value, all other factors equal. As walkable neighborhoods become increasingly desirable, there is a growing concern that disadvantaged groups – particularly lower-income and minority households – may be displaced or excluded from these spaces. This investigation therefore assesses whether minorities, and black residents in particular, are being excluded from urban neighborhoods with high walkability by examining demographic changes between 2010 and 2020 across approximately 37,000 urban census tracts. Change in neighborhood ethno-racial diversity was also assessed to determine whether highly walkable neighborhoods are becoming more or less diverse.