County by County Blog

Project updates, commentaries, events and news about health across the nation from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps team.

Understanding Transportation’s Impact on Community Health

Publication date
August 21, 2013
States:

A lot of research indicates that better pedestrian and transportation options help create healthier communities. In fact, countries with lower rates of obesity tend to have higher rates of commuters who walk or bike to work. The County Health Rankings evaluate a community’s built environment because where people live, learn, work, and play have a significant impact on a person’s health. An individual’s ability to commute to work, doctor appointments, grocery stores, and recreation areas, without relying on a car does as well.

In Columbia, Missouri, the PedNet Coalition, is dedicated to creating and promoting the use of a pedestrian and pedaling network throughout the city. The group, comprised of more than 6,000 residents, businesses and non-profits, also advocates for tripling public transportation services in Columbia by 2014. In 2011, the coalition received a Roadmaps to Health Community Grant to conduct a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and an awareness campaign that shared the health benefits of increased public transit options.

The campaign highlights a number of interesting facts that also show the economic benefits of public transportation in addition to the potential for increased physical activity, reduced air pollution and stress-related illnesses. The full HIA was released in late 2012 and was so well received the county council requested another HIA to evaluate possible strategies to finance expanding public transit.

​Photo Credit: City of Columbia Missouri 

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