1. ¹Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
2. ²Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
3. ³Project for Public Spaces, New York, NY, USA
4. ⁴Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

Correspondence: Kathryn M. Neckerman, Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, Columbia University, 420 West 118th Street, MC 3355, New York, NY 10027, USA. E-mail: kmn2@columbia.edu

Abstract

Although many low-income urban areas are highly walkable by conventional measures such as population density or land use mix, chronic diseases related to lack of physical activity are more common among residents of these areas. Disparities in neighborhood conditions may make poor areas less attractive environments for walking, offsetting the advantages of density and land use mix. This study compared poor and nonpoor neighborhoods in New York City, using geographic information systems measures constructed from public data for US census tracts within New York City (N=2,172) as well as field observation of a matched-pair sample of 76 block faces on commercial streets in poor and nonpoor neighborhoods. Poor census tracts had significantly fewer street trees, landmarked buildings, clean streets, and sidewalk cafes, and higher rates of felony complaints, narcotics arrests, and vehicular crashes. The field observation showed similar results. Improving aesthetic and safety conditions in poor neighborhoods may help reduce disparities in physical activity among urban residents.