Health Impacts of Nonmotorized Travel, Telecommuting, and the Built Environment: A County-Level Analysis

This study investigates the roles of nonmotorized travel, telecommuting, and the built environment in health. Multilevel structural equation models have been developed to examine the complex interrelationships between county-level nonmotorized travel and telecommuting mode shares, county-level health status indicators, as well as built and social environment characteristics at various spatial levels. The results indicate that higher levels of nonmotorized travel within a county are linked with improved health outcomes for residents, whereas higher rates of telecommuting are related to adverse health effects. The results further show that county-level health outcomes are linked with built environment attributes including the extent of compactness and mixed-use development, pedestrian-friendliness of the street network, distance to transit, access to healthcare and recreational facilities, and prevalence of fast food restaurants. Identifying the key factors that influence the health profiles of communities, these findings can assist in developing more effective transportation planning policies that foster sustainable travel and promote healthier communities.