Do Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) and Established Urban Neighborhoods Have Similar Walking Levels in Hong Kong

Bibliographic Data

ID15467784
AuthorsYi Lü (0000-0001-7614-6661, City University of Hong Kong, corresponding author), Zhonghua Gou (0000-0001-9627-4724, Griffith University), Yang Xiao (0000-0001-9237-8913, Tongji University), Chandikaprasad Sarkar (0000-0001-5374-217X, University of Hong Kong), Chinmoy Sarkar (Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China), John Zacharias (0000-0002-1456-0143, Peking University)
Year2018
Volume15
Issue3
Pages555-555
Publication date2018-03-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph15030555
PMID29558379
OpenAlexW2789829159
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited45

A sharp drop in physical activity and skyrocketing obesity rate has accompanied rapid urbanization in China. The urban planning concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) has been widely advocated in China to promote physical activity, especially walking. Indeed, many design features thought to promote walking-e.g., mixed land use, densification, and well-connected street network-often characterize both TODs and established urban neighborhoods. Thus, it is often assumed that TODs have similar physical activity benefits as established urban neighborhoods. To verify this assumption, this study compared walking behaviors in established urban neighborhoods and transit-oriented new towns in Hong Kong. To address the limitation of self-selection bias, we conducted a study using Hong Kong citywide public housing scheme, which assigns residents to different housing estates by flat availability and family size rather than personal preference. The results show new town residents walked less for transportation purpose than urban residents. New town residents far from the transit station (800-1200 m) walked less for recreational purpose than TOD residents close to a rail transit station (<400 m) or urban residents. The observed disparity in walking behaviors challenges the common assumption that TOD and established urban neighborhoods have similar impact on walking behavior. The results suggest the necessity for more nuanced planning strategies, taking local-level factors into account to promote walking of TOD residents who live far from transit stations

Built environment · Business · China · Civil engineering · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Geography · Political science · Public transport · Recreation · Transit-oriented development · Transport engineering · Urban design · Urban planning · Urbanization · Engineering · Medicine · Transportation Planning and Optimization · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Transport and Accessibility

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