ITS Berkeley

Understanding the Relation Between Tobacco Outlet Density and Tobacco Use in African American Young Adults

Rodriguez, D
Adachi-Mejia, A
Carlos, H
Ratmansky, J
2020

Researchers assessed the relation between tobacco outlet density (TOD) and sociodemographic factors (e.g., urbanicity, % people living in poverty, % minorities in a census tract). Results revealed TOD disparities, with the greatest density in areas where ethnic minorities and the poor live. Researchers found relations between TOD and smoking behavior, although results are mixed, with some finding no relations at all. This suggests that the TOD/tobacco use relation is heterogeneous. We proposed to assess the relation between TOD and tobacco use (i.e., combustible cigarettes and chew tobacco...

A Typology of the Built Environment Around Rail Stops in the Global Transit-Oriented City of Seoul, Korea

Rodriguez, DA
Kang, CD
2020

Compact, diverse, walkable, and well-integrated development around mass transit has been shown to increase transit ridership, balance passenger flows, promote economic development, and improve quality of life. Developing station area typologies constitutes an important step in the planning and implementation of land development oriented toward transit. These typologies should reflect local priorities and market conditions, avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to station area development, and stimulate conversations regarding the roles transit-focused development can play in regional...

A Method for Estimating the Associations of Neighborhood Type with Availability of Sit-down Restaurants and Supermarkets

Peng, K
Rodriguez, D
Hirsch, JA
Gordon-Larsen, P
2020

Although neighborhood-level access to food differs by sociodemographic factors, almost all research on neighborhoods and food access has used a single construct of neighborhood context, such as income or race. Neighborhoods possess many interrelated built environment and sociodemographic characteristics, a condition that obscures relationships between neighborhood factors and food access. Methods: To account for the effects of many interrelated aspects of neighborhoods in food access, we developed a generally applicable method that used multiple measures (e.g., population density, mix of...

A Systematic Review of Empirical and Simulation Studies Evaluating the Health Impact of Transportation Interventions

Stankov, I
Garcia, LMT
Mascolli, M
Montes, F
Meisel, JD
Gouveia, N
Sarmiento, O
Rodriguez, D
Hammond, R
Caiaffa, WT
Roux, AV Diez
2020
Urban transportation is an important determinant of health and environmental outcomes, and therefore essential to achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. To better understand the health impacts of transportation initiatives, we conducted a systematic review of longitudinal health evaluations involving: a) bus rapid transit (BRT); b) bicycle lanes; c) Open Streets programs; and d) aerial trams/cable cars. We also synthesized systems-based simulation studies of the health-related consequences of walking, bicycling, aerial tram, bus and BRT use. Two reviewers screened 3302...

Comparative analysis of pedestrian injuries using police, emergency department, and death certificate data sources in North Carolina, US, 2007–2012

Sandt, LS
Proescholdbell, S
Evenson, K
Robinson, W
Rodriguez, D
Harmon, K
Marshall, S
2020
Pedestrian safety programs are needed to address the rising incidence of pedestrian fatalities. Unfortunately, most communities lack comprehensive information on the circumstances of pedestrian crashes and resulting injuries that could help guide decision-making for prevention program development and implementation. This study aimed to evaluate how three commonly available data sources (police-reported pedestrian crashes, emergency department [ED] visits, and death certificates) define and capture pedestrian injury data, and to compare the distribution of pedestrian injuries and fatalities...

Bicycle safety in Bogotá: A seven-year analysis of bicyclists’ collisions and fatalities

Carvajal, G
Sarmiento, OL
Medaglia, A
Cabrales, S
Rodríguez, D
Quintsberg, A
Lopez, S
2020
Road safety research in low- and middle-income countries is limited, even though ninety percent of global road traffic fatalities are concentrated in these locations. In Colombia, road traffic injuries are the second leading source of mortality by external causes and constitute a significant public health concern in the city of Bogotá. Bogotá is among the top 10 most bike-friendly cities in the world. However, bicyclists are one of the most vulnerable road-users in the city. Therefore, assessing the pattern of mortality and understanding the variables affecting the outcome of bicyclists’...

Only Walking for Transportation in Large Latin American Cities: Walking-only Trips and Total Walking Events and Their Sociodemographic Correlates

Delclòs-Alió, X
Rodriguez, D
Medina, C
Miranda, JJ
Avila-Palencia, I
Targa, F
Moran, M
Sarmiento, O
Quistberg, D
2020

Walking for transportation is a common and accessible means of achieving recommended physical activity levels, while providing important social and environmental co-benefits. Even though walking in rapidly growing urban areas has become especially challenging given the increasing dependence on motorized transportation, walking remains a major mode of transportation in Latin American cities. In this paper we aimed to quantify self-reported walking for transportation in Mexico City, Bogota, Santiago de Chile, Sao Paulo, and Buenos Aires, by identifying both walking trips that are...

Urban Health and Health Equity in Latin American Cities: What COVID-19 is Teaching Us

Roux, AV Diez
Barrientos-Gutierrez, T
Caiaffa, WT
Miranda, J
Rodriguez, D
Sarmiento, O
Slesinksi, S
Vergaga, A
2020

Latin America is the most unequal and urbanized region of the world. The physical and social environments of Latin American cities, the lack of public health and health-care infrastructure, and pronounced social and health inequities make these cities especially vulnerable to COVID-19. It is too soon to know the true impact of the pandemic and how it will compare to the many ongoing health and environmental challenges facing Latin American cities. In this commentary, we highlight a few key lessons with major implications not only for COVID-19 but for urban health and health...

Park Use, Perceived Park Proximity, and Neighborhood Characteristics: Evidence from 11 Cities in Latin America

Moran, M
Rodriguez, D
Cotinez-O'Ryan, A
Miranda, J
2020
This study examines how park use may be associated with perceived park proximity, neighborhood-built environment and perceived social disorder in Latin American cities. The study uses self-reported data from the 2016 CAF survey, including 7,970 urban residents from 11 cities across Latin America. Results show positive graded associations between perceived park proximity and use, holding all others constant. Additional factors that were found to be associated with park use are neighborhood formality and related built-environment characteristics, including paved streets and sidewalks. Park use...

Physical Disorders and Poor Self-Rated Health in Adults Living in Four Latin American Cities: A Multilevel Approach

Vaz, C
Andrade, A
Silva, U
Rodriguez, D
Wang, X
Moore, K
Friche, A
Roux, AV Diez
Caiaffa, WT
2020
Considering that urban environments may affect self-rated health through behavioral and psychosocial mechanisms, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-rated health and perceived urban environment characteristics among adults living in four Latin American cities. Data is from a population-based survey by Development Bank of Latin America, encompassing adults between 20 and 60 years old in Buenos Aires, Lima, Mexico City, and Panama City. Self-rated health was measured using a single question and the response options were categorized as poor and good. The...