National Evidence Regarding Behavior and Physical Activity in New Urbanist Neighborhoods

Although proponents have emphasized new urbanism’s ability to reduce automobile dependence, increase walking, and improve the health of its residents, there is a paucity of research to support these claims. The authors surveyed residents of 34 neighborhoods in 12 U.S. states to examine whether the travel behavior and physical activity of new urbanist neighborhood residents differed from their conventional suburban counterparts. They used a matched-pair design in which each new urbanist neighborhood was matched with a conventional suburban neighborhood in the same municipality. Regression analysis was used to examine associations between neighborhood type and the travel behavior and physical activity outcomes. Findings indicate that there was no difference in vehicle mileage, even though new urbanist residents made more trips – by car, non-motorized, and within their neighborhood - than residents of conventional suburban neighborhoods. Thus, trips taken by new urbanist residents were shorter in length than trips taken by their suburban counterparts.