01366109

Component

Higher crime rates theoretically deter walking, yet empirical analyses show mixed results. The authors hypothesized that high walking rates occurs in high density and lower income areas that tend to have higher levels of crime. Furthermore, gender, car ownership and relative wealth may potentially moderate associations between crime and walking. In an attempt to disentangle these effects, a statewide New Jersey survey (n= 673) of walking and perceptions of the social and built environment were linked to crime and census data. The authors identified municipal correlates of violent crime rates and used a sequential modeling approach to estimate walking. Women were more likely to walk for exercise, but less likely as crime rose. Carless households and wealthier respondents were positively associated with non-discretionary walking, but walked less when crime rates were higher. High density, poorer municipalities have higher crime rates and also have more walking, explaining discrepancies in results of previous studies.

01362476

12-1747

English

30p

2012

Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Bibliography; Figures; Tables

Low income groups; Population density; Socioeconomic factors; Travel surveys; Violent crimes; Walking

New Jersey

Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2012 Paper #12-1747

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2012 5:05PM