Spatially Varying Effects of Street Greenery on Walking Time of Older Adults

Population aging has become a notable and enduring demographic phenomenon worldwide. Older adults’ walking behavior is determined by many factors, such as socioeconomic attributes and the built environment. Although a handful of recent studies have examined the influence of street greenery (a built environment variable readily estimated by big data) on older adults’ walking behavior, they have not focused on the spatial heterogeneity in the influence. To this end, this study extracts the socioeconomic and walking behavior data from the Travel Characteristic Survey 2011 of Hong Kong and estimates street greenery (the green view index) based on Google Street View imagery. It then develops global models (linear regression and Box–Cox transformed models) and local models (geographically weighted regression models) to scrutinize the average (global) and location-specific (local) relationships, respectively, between street greenery and older adults’ walking time. Notably, green view indices in three neighborhoods with different sizes are estimated for robustness checks. The results show that (1) street greenery has consistent and significant effects on walking time; (2) the influence of street greenery varies across space—specifically, it is greater in the suburban area; and (3) the performance of different green view indices is highly consistent.

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Perceptions of the Neighborhood Built Environment for Walking Behavior in Older Adults Living in Close Proximity

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464820979258 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 073346482097925

Author(s):

Florian Herbolsheimer ◽

Atiya Mahmood ◽

Nadine Ungar ◽

Yvonne L. Michael ◽

Frank Oswald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Built Environment ◽

Past Research ◽

Subjective Assessment ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Physical Limitations ◽

Pedestrian Infrastructure ◽

Neighborhood Built Environment

Past research documents a discordance between perceived and objectively assessed neighborhood environmental features on walking behavior. Therefore, we examined differences in the perception of the same neighborhood built environment. Participants were grouped if they lived 400 m or closer to each other. The perception of the pedestrian infrastructure, neighborhood aesthetics, safety from crime, and safety from traffic was derived from a telephone survey from two North American metropolitan areas; 173 individuals were clustered into 42 groups. Older adults who walked for transport in their neighborhood experienced the same neighborhood as more walkable (β = .19; p = .011) with better pedestrian infrastructure (β = .16; p = .037). Older adults with physical limitations experienced the same neighborhood as less safe from crime (β = −.17; p = .030) and traffic (β = −.20; p = .009). The study supports the notion that individual behavior and physical restrictions alter the environment’s perception and explains part of the discordance between objective and subjective assessment of the neighborhood environment.

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Non-Linear Effects of the Built Environment and Social Environment on Bus Use among Older Adults in China: An Application of the XGBoost Model

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189592 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9592

Author(s):

Lanjing Wang ◽

Chunli Zhao ◽

Xiaofei Liu ◽

Xumei Chen ◽

Chaoyang Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Social Environment ◽

Public Transport ◽

Dwelling Unit ◽

Bus Stop ◽

Environment Variable ◽

Non Linear ◽

Unit Density

Global aging has raised increasing concerns on the health and well-being of older adults. Public transport is a viable option to improve the mobility and quality of life among older adults. However, policies that promote the public transport use among older adults are rare. This study utilizes the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) decision tree to explore the non-linear associations of the built and social environment with bus use among older adults in China. The bus use of older adults was obtained from the Zhongshan Household Travel Survey (ZHTS) in 2012. Results show that non-linear relationships exist among all built environment and social environment characteristics. Within certain thresholds, the percentage of green space land use, land use mixture, bus-stop density, and dwelling unit density are positively related to bus use among older adults. Likewise, one social environment variable, the proportion of older adults in a neighborhood, is the key social environment variable. Furthermore, the dwelling unit density and proportion of older adults appear to have an inverse U-shaped relationship. Additionally, age, ownership of motorcycles, and distance from home to the nearest bus stop also show non-linearity. The findings presented in this paper facilitate effective planning interventions to promote bus use among older adults.

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Non-linear Relationships Between the Built Environment and Walking Frequency Among Older Adults in Zhongshan, China

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.686144 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Jiani Wu ◽

Chunli Zhao ◽

Chaoyang Li ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Lanjing Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Land Use ◽

Built Environment ◽

Green Space ◽

Additive Model ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Old Adults ◽

Linear Relationships ◽

Walking Activity ◽

Non Linear

Aim: Promoting walking activity is an effective way to improve the health of older adults. Walking frequency is a critical component of walking behavior and an essential determinant of daily walking levels. To decipher the association between the built environment and walking frequency among older adults, this study's aims are as follows: (1) to empirically test whether non-linear relationships between the two exist, and (2) to identify the thresholds of the built environment characteristics that promote walking.Methods: The walking frequency of old adults was derived from the Zhongshan Household Travel Survey (ZHTS) in 2012. The sample size of old adults aged 60 or over was 4784 from 274 urban and rural neighborhoods. A semi-parametric generalized additive model (GAMM) is used to analyze the non-linear or non-monotonic relationships between the built environment and the walking frequency among older adults.Results: We found that non-linear relationships exist among five out of the six built environment characteristics. Within certain thresholds, the population density, sidewalk density, bus stop density, land use mixture, and the percentage of green space are positively related to older adults' walking trips. Furthermore, the land use mixture and the percentage of green space show an inverse “V”-shaped relationship.Conclusions: Built environment features can either support or hinder the walking frequency among older adults. The findings in the current study contribute to effective land use and transport policies for promoting active travel among older adults.

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Modeling the Spatial Variation in U.S. Airfares Utilizing Geographically Weighted Regression

International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research ◽

10.4018/ijagr.2014100104 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 54-71

Author(s):

Hilton A. Cordoba ◽

Russell L. Ivy

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variation ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Geographically Weighted Regression ◽

Regression Models ◽

Yield Management ◽

Weighted Regression ◽

Local Models ◽

Multivariate Approach ◽

Global Models ◽

Economic Changes

Modeling airline fares is quite challenging due to the constantly changing fare structure of the airlines in response to competitors, yield management principles, and a variety of political and economic changes, and has become more complex since deregulation. This paper attempts to add to the literature by providing a more in-depth look at fare structure using a multivariate approach. A total 6,200 routes between 80 primary U.S. airports are analyzed using linear and geographically weighted regression models. The results from the global models reinforce some of the expectations mentioned in the literature, while the local models provide an opportunity to analyze the spatial variation of influencing factors and predictability.

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Everyday Walking Among Older Adults and the Neighborhood Built Environment: A Comparison Between Two Cities in North America

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.564533 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Florian Herbolsheimer ◽

Atiya Mahmood ◽

Yvonne L. Michael ◽

Habib Chaudhury

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Population Density ◽

Built Environment ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Metro Vancouver ◽

Walkable Neighborhood ◽

Neighborhood Built Environment

A walkable neighborhood becomes particularly important for older adults for whom physical activity and active transportation are critical for healthy aging-in-place. For many older adults, regular walking takes place in the neighborhood and is the primary mode of mobility. This study took place in eight neighborhoods in Metro Portland (USA) and Metro Vancouver (Canada), examining older adults' walking behavior and neighborhood built environmental features. Older adults reported walking for recreation and transport in a cross-sectional telephone survey. Information on physical activity was combined with audits of 355 street segments using the Senior Walking Environmental Audit Tool-Revised (SWEAT-R). Multi-level regression models examined the relationship between built environmental characteristics and walking for transport or recreation. Older adults [N = 434, mean age: 71.6 (SD = 8.1)] walked more for transport in high-density neighborhoods and in Metro Vancouver compared to Metro Portland (M = 12.8 vs. M = 2.2 min/day; p < 0.001). No relationship was found between population density and walking for recreation. Older adults spent more time walking for transport if pedestrian crossing were present (p = 0.037) and if parks or outdoor fitness amenities were available (p = 0.022). The immediate neighborhood built environment supports walking for transport in older adults. Comparing two similar metropolitan areas highlighted that high population density is necessary, yet not a sufficient condition for walking in the neighborhood.

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The Impact of the Community Built Environment on the Walking Times of Residents in a Community in the Downtown Area of Fuzhou

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11030691 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 691

Author(s):

Lizhen Zhao ◽

Zhenjiang Shen ◽

Yanji Zhang ◽

Yan Ma

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Regression Models ◽

Education Level ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Downtown Area ◽

Point Of Interest ◽

Independent Variable ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact ◽

Walking Time

By means of on-site and network investigation, we collected data relevant to residents of communities, point of interest (POI) data, and land-use data of Fuzhou. We set traffic walking time and leisure walking time as an independent variable, built environment as dependent variable, and gender, age, education level and income level as control variables. Six linear regression models were established using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS). The results showed that in the 5D (i.e., Density, Diversity, Design, Destination and Distance) elements of the built environment, the density was negatively correlated with the traffic walking time, whereas other elements were positively correlated with the walking time, but the degree of influence was different.

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Eye-Level Street Greenery and Walking Behaviors of Older Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176130 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6130

Author(s):

Peng Zang ◽

Xuhong Liu ◽

Yabo Zhao ◽

Hongxu Guo ◽

Yi Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Land Use ◽

Population Density ◽

Built Environment ◽

Street Connectivity ◽

Design Consideration ◽

Methodological Limitation ◽

Urban Greenery ◽

The Relationship ◽

Walking Time

Evidence suggests that built environment characteristics affect older adults’ travel activity behaviors, e.g., walking and cycling, which have well-established health benefits. However, the relationship between urban greenery and walking behaviors remains unclear, partly due to methodological limitation. Previous studies often measured urban greenery from a bird’s eye perspective, which may mismatch with the pedestrian’s perception from the street. In this study, we measured greenery view index from eye-level streetscape photos retrieved from Baidu Street View, an online mapping service provider. Walking behaviors of 180 older adults in six neighborhoods were collected from questionnaires. We also measured land use diversity, pedestrian-oriented design (street connectivity), and population density—the three Ds of the built environment. Results show that street greenery view index contributes to walking time of older adults, suggesting street greenery should be taken into design consideration to promote walking behaviors of older adults.

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Impact of Older Adults’ Neighborhood Perceptions on Walking Behavior

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2014-0278 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 247-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Jordana L. Maisel

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Built Environment ◽

Traffic Safety ◽

User Behavior ◽

Street Connectivity ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Study Support ◽

The Relationship ◽

Neighborhood Type ◽

Age And Sex

Built environment features can have varying impacts on user behavior depending on the perceptions of the opportunities and obstacles that the environments create. This study systematically evaluated the relationship between neighborhood perceptions and the specific types of self-reported walking behavior for 121 older adults who resided in urban, suburban, or rural neighborhoods. Perceptions of street connectivity, crime and traffic safety, and overall satisfaction were associated with specific types of walking behaviors, and the strength of the relationships differed by neighborhood type. Sociodemographic variables such as age and sex were associated with certain types and amounts of older adults’ walking behaviors both across and within each neighborhood type. The results of this study support the importance of perceived street connectivity regardless of neighborhood type and perceived crime safety in rural neighborhoods to impact the walking behavior among older adults.

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Exploring spatial nonstationary environmental effects on Yellow Perch distribution in Lake Erie

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.7350 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e7350

Author(s):

Changdong Liu ◽

Junchao Liu ◽

Yan Jiao ◽

Yanli Tang ◽

Kevin B. Reid

Keyword(s):

Environmental Effects ◽

Geographically Weighted Regression ◽

Regression Models ◽

Yellow Perch ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Regression Coefficients ◽

Weighted Regression ◽

Local Regression ◽

Spatially Varying ◽

Spatial Locations

Background Global regression models under an implicit assumption of spatial stationarity were commonly applied to estimate the environmental effects on aquatic species distribution. However, the relationships between species distribution and environmental variables may change among spatial locations, especially at large spatial scales with complicated habitat. Local regression models are appropriate supplementary tools to explore species-environment relationships at finer scales. Method We applied geographically weighted regression (GWR) models on Yellow Perch in Lake Erie to estimate spatially-varying environmental effects on the presence probabilities of this species. Outputs from GWR were compared with those from generalized additive models (GAMs) in exploring the Yellow Perch distribution. Local regression coefficients from the GWR were mapped to visualize spatially-varying species-environment relationships. K-means cluster analyses based on the t-values of GWR local regression coefficients were used to characterize the distinct zones of ecological relationships. Results Geographically weighted regression resulted in a significant improvement over the GAM in goodness-of-fit and accuracy of model prediction. Results from the GWR revealed the magnitude and direction of environmental effects on Yellow Perch distribution changed among spatial locations. Consistent species-environment relationships were found in the west and east basins for adults. The different kinds of species-environment relationships found in the central management unit (MU) implied the variation of relationships at a scale finer than the MU. Conclusions This study draws attention to the importance of accounting for spatial nonstationarity in exploring species-environment relationships. The GWR results can provide support for identification of unique stocks and potential refinement of the current jurisdictional MU structure toward more ecologically relevant MUs for the sustainable management of Yellow Perch in Lake Erie.

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The Effects of Neighborhood Built Environment on Walking for Leisure and for Purpose Among Older People

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnz093 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Zachary J Christman ◽

Maureen Wilson-Genderson ◽

Allison Heid ◽

Rachel Pruchno

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Built Environment ◽

Older People ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Neighborhood Characteristics ◽

Single Family ◽

Walking Behavior ◽

Novel Method ◽

Neighborhood Built Environment ◽

Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives Characteristics of a neighborhood’s built environment affect the walking behavior of older people, yet studies typically rely on small nonrepresentative samples that use either subjective reports or aggregate indicators from administrative sources to represent neighborhood characteristics. Our analyses examine the usefulness of a novel method for observing neighborhoods—virtual observations—and assess the extent to which virtual-based observations predict walking among older adults. Research Design and Methods Using Google Street View, we observed the neighborhoods of 2,224 older people and examined how characteristics of the neighborhood built environments are associated with the amount of time older people spend walking for leisure and purpose. Results Multilevel model analyses revealed that sidewalk characteristics had significant associations with both walking for purpose and leisure. Land use, including the presence of multifamily dwellings, commercial businesses, and parking lots were positively associated with walking for purpose and single-family detached homes were negatively associated with walking for purpose, but none of these characteristics were associated with leisure walking. Gardens/flowers were associated with walking for leisure but not purpose. Garbage/litter was not associated with either type of walking behavior. Discussion and Implications Virtual observations are a useful method that provides meaningful information about neighborhoods. Findings demonstrate how neighborhood characteristics assessed virtually differentially impact walking for leisure and purpose among older adults and are interpreted within a social-ecological model.

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