Measuring Walkability: The Health Question
Does the design of a neighborhood affect the level of a person's physical activity? Do people who live in more compact areas get more physical activity than those who live in sprawling neighborhoods?
Ann Forsyth, professor of urban planning and director of the Masters in Urban Planning program at Harvard University, works on the social aspects of physical planning and urban development. Trained in planning and architecture, Forsyth's research focuses on analyzing the success of planned alternatives to sprawling communities. Forsyth has done studies on suburban design, walkability, affordable housing, social diversity, and appropriate green space. Forsyth has created a number of tools and methods in planning.
Forsyth presented "Measuring Walkability: The Health Question" on Tuesday, May 7, during a Volpe speaker series event. Volpe's speaker series offer an innovation information exchange for the transportation community.
Read the news story and view the video from this event.