Suburban, car-dependent living is killing residents in Metro Vancouver: study

Example of a typical suburban, car-dependent neighbourhood in Metro Vancouver. (Shutterstock)

The built form of our urban environment has a drastic influence on the health and lifestyle of Metro Vancouver residents, according to a new study by University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers.

Until now, according to researchers, “very few studies have examined how transportation investment, neighbourhood walkability and access to green space are associated with less chronic disease and lower health care cost. To date, existing evidence used to inform major transportation investment decisions have rarely accounted for the potential health impacts and related costs of these factors.”

Congestion on a highway in Richmond. (Shutterstock)

The research was led by Dr. Lawrence Frank, a UBC professor and the Bombardier chair in Sustainable Transportation and Public Health.

“There is an increasing consensus that the postal code of the neighbourhood where we live is as important as our genetic code,” wrote researchers.

“Our findings reveal that the type of neighbourhood you live in matters for your health. For this reason, it is important to recognize that the type of investments we make in our transportation infrastructure, and the resulting land use patterns of our communities, will ultimately impact the money we individually and collectively as a society spend on healthcare.”

The study’s key findings reveal stark contrasts between the lifestyle and health outcomes of the two types of urban areas.

Those who live in a walkable neighbourhood, compared to a suburban, car-dependent area, are:

45% more likely to walk for transportation, and 17% more likely to meet the weekly recommended level of physical activity
39% less likely to have diabetes
42% less likely to be obese
23% less likely to have stressful days
47% more likely to have a strong sense of community belonging

Five different types of neighbourhoods based on walkability in Metro Vancouver. (UBC Health and Community Design Lab)

Additionally, those who live in an area with six or more nearby parks (“near” is defined as within a one-km distance), compared to an area with no parks, are:

20% more likely to walk for leisure or recreation
33% more likely to meet weekly recommended levels of physical activity
37% less likely to have diabetes and 39% less likely to have heart disease
43% less likely to be obese
19% less likely to have stressful days
23% more likely to have a strong sense of community belonging

Park Access in Metro Vancouver: Number of Parks Within 1 km Walking Distance. (UBC Health and Community Design Lab)

Furthermore, residents living within a walkable urban centre generally have lower healthcare costs compared to those living in a suburban area. The findings are also similar for those within a one-km distance of a number of parks.

Through its analysis of healthcare cost data, researchers also determined the following:

Diabetes healthcare cost differences:
- People living in a moderately walkable area have 23% less diabetes-related healthcare costs than people in a car-dependent area
- People living with six or more parks nearby have 75% less diabetes-related healthcare costs than people with zero or one parks
Hypertension healthcare cost differences:
- People living in a walkable area have 47% less hypertension-related healthcare costs than people in a car-dependent area
- People living with six or more parks nearby have 69% less hypertension-related healthcare costs than people with zero or one parks
Heart disease healthcare cost differences
- People living in a walkable area have 31% less heart disease-related healthcare costs than people in a car-dependent area
- People living with six or more parks nearby have 69% less heart disease-related healthcare costs than people with zero or one parks

In real dollar figures, the differences in healthcare costs are stark — and when multiplied with the population affected, the costs are in the tens of millions. For example, diabetes-related costs are at $38,900 for someone living in a car-dependent area, whereas it is $17,600 for someone living in a walkable area.

Regional Accessibility in Metro Vancouver: Number of Regional Centres Accessible by Transit in 45 Minutes in Morning Rush Hour. (UBC Health and Community Design Lab)

Researchers hope policy makers will apply their research findings into policymaking, such as policies that not only expand public transit but also integrate such infrastructure investments with high-density walkable development.

Neighbourhoods should be designed to be oriented around walking and cycling, and entail ample parks, green space, and open space.

Furthermore, land use planning should support increased accessed to shops and services and overall land use mix and densification.

At the same time, however, policy makers of the healthiest areas of the region — specifically the City of Vancouver — are facing an uphill battle with creating a supply of housing that is affordable. The shortage in affordable housing for all incomes is pushing more and more people out of the city and into suburban, car-dependent areas.

Suburban, car-dependent living is killing residents in Metro Vancouver: study

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