Suburban connectivity: how multifamily housing design affects mode choice and level of active travel

Nico Larco & Jean Stockard & Bethany Steiner & Amanda West, "Trips to Strips: Walking and Site Design in Suburban Multifamily Housing," Journal of Urban Design 18 (2013): 2

The take-away: This article works to quantify the relationship between connectivity and transportation mode choice in suburban multifamily housing. The findings demonstrate that, “contrary to common perceptions, there is a substantial amount of pedestrian activity in and around suburban multifamily developments and that better-connected sites result in more active travel” (302). Additionally, it is asserted that prevailing design strategies in these developments “are, quite literally, barriers to capitalizing on the potential health, economic, environmental, and social benefits of fostering more active travel in suburbia.” The implications of the study also extend beyond its specific focus on connectivity with commercial centers; other important destinations to give similar attention include “parks, schools, offices, or simply through suburban multifamily lots.”   

Abstract: With over nine million units in the country, suburban multifamily housing is a widespread and overlooked example of density located within walking distance of commercial development in suburbia. This paper reports on resident demographics, attitudes, and perceptions as they relate to mode choice in 14 suburban multifamily sites in Eugene, Oregon. Through site analysis and resident surveys, this study shows that residents of well-connected suburban multifamily housing developments walk or bike for nearly half of their trips to the local commercial area (LCA). In addition, residents of well-connected multifamily developments reported walking to their LCA 60% more (one more trip per week) than residents of less-connected developments who took a similar number of total trips. Quantifying the degree to which site design, and specifically connectivity, makes a difference in residents' mode choice is a first step towards increasing the amount of active transportation in these areas. The results of this research provide planners and designers a basis for re-evaluating suburban multifamily site design and zoning codes.

Full article (requires access)