The Challenge: There is a link between neighborhood design and active travel, but it is possible that residents who already are active choose (“self-select”) neighborhoods that support such travel. If this is the case, improvements to the walking environment may not necessarily encourage residents to walk more.

Make an Impact: Improvements to the built environment that facilitate walking have the potential to increase active travel for all residents, whether the neighborhood or its residents are walking-oriented or not.

What the findings are about: This brief reviews evidence showing that self-selection is linked to higher levels of walking in more walkable, traditionally designed neighborhoods, but that neighborhood design can also encourage walking among people who are not already predisposed to do so.