Thinking relationally about built environments and walkability: A study of adult walking behavior in Waterloo, Ontario. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dean, Jennifer; Biglieri, Samantha; Drescher, Michael; Garnett, Anna; Glover, Troy; Casello, Jeff
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 64(2020:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102352
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: The majority of research on built form and walking has been approached from a deterministic perspective and does not address the theoretical underpinnings of individual walking behaviour. This paper interrogates the relationship between individual walkers and their local environment in order to illuminate how and why people walk through/with space. Specifically, the paper reports on findings from 20 adult participants in Waterloo, Canada who took part in a participatory walking interview accompanied by a member of the research team. A relational interpretation of the data revealed that the relationship between built form and walking extends beyond the correlates of residential density, mix of land uses and street networks. Our findings reveal that there are blurred boundaries between utilitarian and recreational walking behavior, and that walking decisions were influenced by desires to avoid discomfort, seek pleasure, foster social connection and more-than-human encounters. We conclude with the argument that a relational perspective better captures the dynamics between people and place, and ultimately guides practitioners to design built environments that accommodate the realities of human activity in general and walking behavior in particular. Highlights: Walkability is about more than deterministic correlates; relationality matters. Walkers seek pleasure, social contact, more-than-human encounters and avoid discomfort. Blended trips and multiple motivations to walk relevant to healthy community plans.