Walk Score™, Perceived Neighborhood Walkability, and Walking in the US

Objectives: To investigate both the Walk Score (TM) and a self-reported measure of neighborhood walkability ("Perceived Neighborhood Walkability") as estimators of transport and recreational walking among Americans. Methods: The study is based upon a survey of a nationally-representative sample of 1224 American adults. The survey gauged walking for both transport and recreation and included a self-reported measure of neighborhood walkability and each respondent's Walk Score (TM). Binary logistic and linear regression analyses were performed on the data. Results: The Walk Score (TM) is associated with walking for transport, but not recreational walking nor total walking. Perceived Neighborhood Walkability is associated with transport, recreational and total walking. Conclusions: Perceived Neighborhood Walkability captures the experiential nature of walking more than the Walk Score (TM).