Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to interact with their neighbors and have a stronger sense of community than people who live in car-dependent communities, according to a report by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.
Walkable neighborhoods provide opportunities for people to interact, and this is an important factor fostering health and wellness. In May, a U.S. Surgeon General Advisory noted that loneliness and isolation can lead to a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, a 50% increased risk of developing dementia among older adults, and increased risk of premature death by more than 60%.
The Surgeon General recommended strengthening social infrastructure by designing environments that promote connection. Walkable neighborhoods promote social interactions by encouraging walking for leisure or transportation to school, work, and shopping. People create and strengthen social connections as they encounter one another during these activities.
“Promoting social interaction is an important public health goal. Understanding the role of neighborhood design bolsters our ability to advocate for the health of our communities and the individuals who reside in them,” said Jacob R. Carson, one of the study’s researchers. “Fewer traffic incidents, increases in physical activity, and better neighborhood social health outcomes are just a few of the results of designing walkable neighborhoods that can enrich our lives.”
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2019
New luxury multifamily development set to bring 254 units to the Maryland suburbs
Dwell Design Studios is designing the project.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 15, 2019
Portland’s new affordable housing development includes units for families transitioning out of homelessness
Salazar Architect is designing the building.
Building Tech | Mar 13, 2019
Almost everything you wanted to know about industrial construction
Our experts offer 15 tips on how best to perform factory-based construction.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 11, 2019
Kaiser Permanente takes aim at reducing chronic homelessness
Initiatives include a multimillion-dollar investment fund, and collaborating with a group that works with communities to house the unsheltered.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 6, 2019
MLK Plaza brings 167 units of affordable housing to the Bronx
The project was financed by the City’s ELLA program.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 26, 2019
275-unit residential building under construction at 2111 S. Wabash
Solomon Cordwell Buenz is designing the project.
Hotel Facilities | Feb 4, 2019
31-story YotelPAD Miami combines 222 hotel rooms and 231 condominiums
YotelPAD is a new brand by Yotel.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 31, 2019
Student housing series: Designing a home away from home in The Golden State
California asserts building code restrictions more stringently than other states, making design challenging for student housing.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 29, 2019
Here's what $41M will buy you in the OMA-designed Avery tower in SF
A glass-enclosed, full-floor, 8,482-sf penthouse will sit more than 600 feet above San Francisco's Transbay District.