Measuring walkability and bikeability for health equity and intervention research: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to describe self-report and audit-based measurement tools of neighbourhood walkability and bikeability for health equity and intervention research. We conducted a scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus with full text via EBSCO in March 2022. We extracted data from a total of 35 papers which reported on 23 self-report and 15 audit-based measures assessing walkability and bikeability. Studies spanned multiple regions including Africa, America, Australia, and Europe, but most were conducted in the United States (n = 15), followed by Australia (n = 6). The most used self-report measure was the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS), while the audit tools Pedestrian Environment Data Scan and Bridge the Gap Street Segment Tool were each used in two studies. The priority populations most often studied were residents of low socio-economic status/high disadvantage neighbourhoods, racialized groups, women, youth, older adults, and rural populations. Ultimately, there is no one tool that can be recommended for use in all contexts and with all priority populations; rather, tools may require adaptations to specific contexts and populations of interest.

KEY POINTS

What is already known on this subject?

• Neighbourhood walkability and bikeability are associated with individual and population physical activity.

• Few studies work with priority populations to assess walkability and bikeability.

What does this study add?

• Few self-report or audit-based measurement tools of walkability and bikeability have been used among priority populations.

• The most common self-report measure was the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS).

• The most common audit tools were the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) and Bridge the Gap Street Segment Tool.

KEYWORDS:

• Audit
• bikeability
• equity
• intervention
• self-report
• walkability

This article is related to:

Research for city practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2260133

Additional information

Funding

Funding to support this work was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada. MS is supported by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair on Urban Health Equity Among Young People (2020-2025). SS is supported by a postdoctoral training award from the Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Sherbrooke.

Notes on contributors

Martine Shareck

Martine Shareck, Ph.D., is a population health researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (2020-2025) on urban environments and health equity among young people. Trained in social epidemiology, health promotion and health geography, she has expertise in research with marginalized populations, on the social determinants of health, in mixed-methods program evaluation and in urban health inequities. She is a Principal Investigator on the CapaCITY/É research team.

Daniel Fuller

Daniel Fuller, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan. His research is focused on using wearable technologies to study physical activity, transportation interventions, and equity in urban spaces. Dan has an M.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. in Public Health from Université de Montréal. He is a Principal Investigator on the INTERACT and CapaCITY/É research teams.

Stephanie Sersli

Stephanie Sersli, Ph.D., recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. She is a health geographer whose research interests encompass place, health lifestyles, and active transportation.

Carly Priebe

Carly Priebe, Ph.D., holds a Lecturer faculty position in the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research interests focus on group norms, health messaging, multiple health behaviour change, public health, and program evaluation. She is particularly interested in incorporating elements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals into her teaching and research practices.

Ali Alfosool

Ali Alfosool, Ph.D., is a visionary entrepreneur and researcher in clean tech and sustainability. Expert in diverse domains, including complex networks, mobile computing, and AI (ML, CV), he has contributed to advancing geo-based walkability and public health initiatives. With a notable track record of co-founding award-winning tech startups globally, and a commitment to addressing societal challenges, he champions causes related to poverty, food insecurity, sustainability, and equity.

Justin J. Lang

Justin Lang, Ph.D., is a Research Scientist with the Public Health Agency of Canada and an Adjunct Professor with the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa. His research is focused on measurement and using national survey data to help inform health surveillance indicators in Canada. Areas of focus include movement behaviours, physical fitness, chronic disease burden, mental health, suicide prevention, and built environment research.

Emily Wolfe Phillips

Emily Wolfe Phillips is a Socio-economic Analyst Researcher with the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Equity at the Public Health Agency of Canada. Her research has focused on physical activity, physical fitness, and well-being. Current areas of work include supportive environments for healthy living and chronic disease prevention.