Texas Study: Walkable Communities Really Do Work

Stanton, Melissa

It may seem a bit of a disconnect, but Texas, an expansive state connected by hundreds and hundreds of miles of highway, is home to a new study showing that pedestrian-oriented, activity-friendly “walkable communities” result in a healthier and more socially supportive and engaged population.

The study, led by Xuemei Zhu, an architecture professor at Texas A&M University, surveyed 449 residents of Mueller, a walkable, transit-oriented development in Austin, Texas. Zhu and her researchers found that when the residents compared their lives in Mueller to where they had resided before, all but those who had already lived in a walkable community reported a significant increase in their physical and social activity levels.

>> Sign up for the free, monthly, AARP Livable Communities e-Newsletter

The survey respondents also perceived more neighborhood cohesion in Mueller than they had in their previous locations. According to the university’s Texas A&M Today blog, “Residents reported a 40 percent average increase in walking or biking activities after moving to the community. Additionally, 65 percent of the study respondents noted an increase in physical activity and 48 percent said their health improved.”

• Learn about the work being done to establish more walkable communities: “13 Smart Solutions for Making America More Walkable.”
• See how residents of South Austin succeeded in getting a traffic light installed at an otherwise uncrossable intersection.
• More about how Texas is becoming more walkable
• See which Texas cities have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities

Melissa Stanton is a project manager for AARP Livable Communities and editor of  AARP.org/livable .

Also of Interest:

• 7 Solutions for Improving a Home’s Energy Efficiency
• 6 Places to Never Use Your Debit Card
• Get Involved: Learn How You Can Give Back
• Join AARP: Savings, resources and news for your well-being

See the  AARP home page for deals, savings tips, trivia and more.