Connecting Healthy Lifestyles and Transportation
Public health issues, including obesity, can be linked in part to inactive lifestyles. Limited pedestrian and biking facilities such as sidewalks and trails have made us dependent on the automobile for access to recreation. To help lead our nation toward healthy eating and active living, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that communities1:
- Improve access to outdoor recreational facilities.
- Build or enhance infrastructures to support more walking and bicycling.
- Support locating schools within easy walking distance of residential areas.
- Improve access to public transportation.
- Support mixed-use development.
- Enhance personal and traffic safety in areas where people are or could be physically active.
- Participate in community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity.
The County Health Department (CCHD) and Planning Commission (CCPC) have partnered to develop a study to promote healthy lifestyles by providing transportation alternatives to the car. The two departments will work with local municipalities to promote transportation choices, and the applicability of Smart Growth principles. This study is being funded under the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Safe and Healthy Communities Program.
This study is occurring simultaneously with the development of the Central Chester County Bike and Pedestrian Plan involving the participation of seven municipalities surrounding West Chester, Downingtown and Exton.
Promoting Landscapes3 Principles
Work will specifically address the following Landscapes3 policies:
Improve parks, trails, and recreation facilities to protect resources, provide connections, and to promote healthy lifestyles. - Use Smart Growth principles to create walkable neighborhoods with higher density and innovative sites sensitive design while maintaining a unique sense of community.
- Coordinate different forms of transportation including pedestrian, bicycle, and bus within and between residential, employment, commercial, educational, public, and recreational land uses.
- Require compact development with sidewalks and create trails that expand opportunities for walking and other physical activity.
- Promote healthy lifestyles through a series of parks that are linked by trails and sidewalks.
- Encourage bicycling and walking and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian amenities and network connectors to transit.
Partnering with Municipalities
In subsequent years, CCHD proposes to inform municipalities on the Complete Streets principles and assist them in making changes to their land use plans. After training sessions, municipality officials will understand the impact of Complete Streets principles on the health and well-being of their residents and will understand their areas of improvement in their plans.
1 Khan L, Sobush K, Keener D, Goodman K, Lowry A, Kakietek J, Zaro S. Recommended community strategies and measurements to prevent obesity in the United States. MMWR 58:RR-7, 2009.