Examining the Impact of the Built Environment on Walkability and Physical Activity Among the Disadvantaged Population

The term “walkability” was coined to explain the effect that the built environment has on people’s propensity to walk about and be physically active. Walkability has been used to evaluate the physical aspects of walking facilities by comparing them to pedestrian perception. The evaluation result can then be used to directly address the concerns of pedestrians. Despite recent advances in research, the walkability notion still doesn’t account for the requirements of disadvantaged pedestrians. The gaps in research have been realized through anomalies in research findings which suggest deficiencies that failed to accommodate for the needs and perceptions of all pedestrians. This paper is a systematic structural review of the research on the walking behaviors, physical activity, and perceptions of the built environment for several disadvantaged groups, namely the elderly, the physically challenged, low-income, and racial minorities. A systematic search of the literature was conducted using Scopus search engine. Combinations of the keywords; built environment, walkability, age, disabilities, and income/cultural factors were used. A qualitative approach was used to analyze all evidence. Three disadvantaged population groups were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Identifying the factors that influence neighborhood satisfaction for the disadvantaged will assist with planning and design of urban developments from a holistic view, enhancing quality and appeal for all social groups to help ensure a lower resident turnover rate. This review helps to identify groups that are marginalized in urban design and assessment methods as a step to design more holistic urban environments that include everyone.