do built environments or neighborhood and travel preferences explain physical activity, driving, and obesity?
Frank LD; Saelens BE; Powell KE; Chapman JE University of British Columbia, School of Community and Regional Planning, 235-1933 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2. ldfrank@interchange.ubc.ca Evidence documents associations between neighborhood design and active and sedentary forms of travel. Most studies compare travel patterns for people located in different types of neighborhoods at one point in time adjusting for demographics. Most fail to account for either underlying neighborhood selection factors (reasons for choosing a neighborhood) or preferences (neighborhoods that are preferred) that impact neighborhood selection and behavior. Known as self-selection, this issue makes it difficult to evaluate causation among built form, behavior, and associated outcomes and to know how much more walking and less driving could occur through creating environments conducive to active transport. The current study controls for neighborhood selection and preference and isolates the effect of
