Background: Walk Score recently has been demonstrated as a valid and reliable tool for estimating
access to nearby facilities, a critical component of the physical activity environment. It has not yet
been determined whether Walk Score relates to other critical components of the physical activity
environment, including street connectivity, access to public transit, residential density, and crime.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between Walk Score and objective/
subjective measures of the physical activity environment.
Methods: Walk Scores were calculated for residential addresses of 296 participants of two RCTs
(2006 –2009). Street connectivity, residential density, access to public transit provisions, and crime
were objectively measured (GIS) and cross-referenced with Walk Scores and participant’s perceptions
of the environment (e.g., perceived crime, access to physical activity facilities, perceived
neighborhood walkability). Pairwise Pearson correlations were calculated in March 2010 to compare
Walk Score to subjective/objective measures of neighborhood walkability.
Results: Signif?cant positive correlations were identif?ed between Walk Score and several objective
(e.g., street connectivity, residential density and access to public transit provisions) and subjective
(e.g., summed score of the physical activity environment) measures of the physical activity environment.
However, positive correlations also were observed between Walk Score and crime.
Conclusions: Collectively, these f?ndings support Walk Score as a free, easy-to-use, and quick proxy
of neighborhood density and access to nearby amenities. However, positive associations between
Walk Score and reported crime highlight a limitation of Walk Score and warrant caution of its use.
« Hide
