TY - JOUR
T1 - Large-scale greenway intervention promotes walking behaviors
T2 - A natural experiment in China
AU - He, D
AU - Lu, Y
AU - Xie, B
AU - Helbich, M
N1 - Funding Information:
Thanks to the funding support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41971179 & 51778552) and the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR (Project No. CityU11207520).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Extensive evidence from cross-sectional studies has revealed a positive link between greenspace access and walking behaviors. However, the inherent weaknesses of the cross-sectional research design have provided little causal inference. In this natural experimental study, we assessed the effects of a large-scale greenway intervention (i.e., the opening of East Lake greenway) on walking behaviors in Wuhan, China. Longitudinal survey data on 1,020 participants were collected before and after the intervention in 2016 and 2019, respectively. The results of the mixed-effect difference-in-difference (DID) models showed that the greenway intervention had a significantly positive effect on the walking time, especially for residents living within two kilometers from the greenway. Furthermore, women and socio-economically disadvantaged people benefited most from the greenway implementation regarding walking time. Our findings provided compelling evidence that public investment in transportation infrastructure (e.g., greenway) effectively promotes walking behaviors and mitigates social inequities in physical activity.
AB - Extensive evidence from cross-sectional studies has revealed a positive link between greenspace access and walking behaviors. However, the inherent weaknesses of the cross-sectional research design have provided little causal inference. In this natural experimental study, we assessed the effects of a large-scale greenway intervention (i.e., the opening of East Lake greenway) on walking behaviors in Wuhan, China. Longitudinal survey data on 1,020 participants were collected before and after the intervention in 2016 and 2019, respectively. The results of the mixed-effect difference-in-difference (DID) models showed that the greenway intervention had a significantly positive effect on the walking time, especially for residents living within two kilometers from the greenway. Furthermore, women and socio-economically disadvantaged people benefited most from the greenway implementation regarding walking time. Our findings provided compelling evidence that public investment in transportation infrastructure (e.g., greenway) effectively promotes walking behaviors and mitigates social inequities in physical activity.
KW - Causal relationship
KW - Greenspace
KW - Greenway
KW - Natural experiment
KW - Social equity
KW - Walking behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118830994&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.trd.2021.103095
DO - 10.1016/j.trd.2021.103095
M3 - Article
SN - 1361-9209
VL - 101
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - Transportation Research, Part D: Transport and Environment
JF - Transportation Research, Part D: Transport and Environment
M1 - 103095
ER -