Physical Activity: Cinderella or Rodney Dangerfield?

title-long: 
Physical Activity: Cinderella or Rodney Dangerfield?
Date: 
10/01/2009
Description: 

Yancey, A.K. & Sallis, J.F. (2009). Physical Activity: Cinderella or Rodney Dangerfield. Preventive Medicine, 49(4), 277-279.

Abstract: 
Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of death, disability, and health care costs, but resources and other investments in promoting physical activity are neither proportional to nor ideally suited to address the problem, especially in the United States. Capacity for physical activity promotion is lacking, when compared to the response to other major health risk and protective behaviors. The authors of the commentaries in this special issue were asked to identify key issues from a variety of perspectives and to recommend actions that can be taken now to increase physical activity across the population so that all segments of society benefit, especially those at high risk of chronic diseases. The goal is to stimulate research institutions, public health agencies at all levels, and policy makers to raise physical activity as a priority commensurate with other pressing public health concerns.
Population: 
Unspecified

Quantitative Analysis of Urban Form: A Multidisciplinary Review

title-long: 
Quantitative Analysis of Urban Form: A Multidisciplinary Review
Date: 
03/01/2008
Description: 

Clifton, K., Ewing, R., Knapp, G., & Song, Y. (2008). Quantitative Analysis of Urban Form: A Multidisciplinary Review. Journal of Urbanism, 1(1), 17-45.

Funding Source: 
Funding by the Active Living Research program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Related Content: 
Abstract: 

This paper characterizes and reviews multidisciplinary approaches to urban form. It begins by classifying quantitative approaches to analyzing urban form into five classes: landscape ecology, economic structure, surface transportation, community design, and urban design. It then reviews quantitative measures in each class. Based on the review, four conclusions are drawn. First, over the last two decades substantial progress has been made in the ability to measure and analyze spatial patterns that help characterize urban form. Second, at multiples scales and for a variety of reasons, there are advantages to development that is mixed and compact. Third, normative principles and policies for addressing urban form need to be crafted at multiple scales and carefully designed to address the disparate issues that arise at each scale. Fourth, with so many disparate measures now used to operationalize the same constructs, it would advance urban form research to have some standardization in operational definitions and measurement protocols.

Topic: 
Community Design & Transportation
Community Design
Resource Type: 
Citation
Population: 
N/A
Study Type: 
Review
Topic: 
Transportation
Public Transit
Pedestrian Facilities
Bike Facilities
Communities
Zoning and Mixed Land Use
Population: 
Unspecified
Document Type: 
Research Paper
Location by State: 
National

Walking and Bicycling Suitability Assessment (WABSA)

Date: 
08/01/1998
Description: 

WABSA is an instrument that audits the walkability and bikeability of urban streets. It is suitable for community groups that want to present high quality data to transportation planners, city engineers, and elected officials when advocating for change. Academics can use the WASBSA method as a tutorial for public health, urban planning, engineering, and landscape design students.

More information, including the audit tool, guidebook, and related references, can be found on the WABSA website.

Authors: 
James Emery, M.P.H.; Carolyn Crump, Ph.D.; Philip Bors, M.P.H.
Organization: 
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Public Health
Email: 
jemery@email.unc.edu
Study Type: 
Measures
Topic2: 
Transportation
Roads and Streets
Pedestrian Facilities
Bike Facilities
Population2: 
Unspecified
Location by State: 
National

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