Regional disparities in populations near walking spaces

Focusing on the pedestrian network and municipality-designated walking course

Abstract

This study focused on walking spaces for health promotion and analyzed the differences in walking spaces among administrative areas by estimating the population of neighborhoods. In this study, walking space was defined as a pedestrian network with a minimum width of 2.5m as well as walking course designated by municipal health department. As a result, it was found that differences existed among administrative areas in the population living near walking spaces. Specifically, it was found that there are 5 wards with more than 75% of the population accessible to both the pedestrian networks and walking courses, and 7 wards with less than 25% of the population accessible to both. The importance of greater coordination between health and construction departments was noted to expand walking space and promote walking.