IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i12p6268-d572193.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Road Runners

Author

Listed:
  • Nadine Schuurman

    (Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

  • Leah Rosenkrantz

    (Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

  • Scott A. Lear

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

Abstract

Recreational road running is growing in popularity and has been linked to numerous mental and physical health benefits. However, we know little about what environmental preferences or concerns runners have regarding participation in the sport, and whether differences exist across age and gender. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on recreational road runners to investigate the type of built and natural environments road runners prefer, as well as the safety and health concerns that may affect runners’ choice of environment. Responses were analyzed by age and gender. A total of 1228 road runners responded to the survey; 59.6% of respondents were women and 32.1% of respondents were men. Most respondents preferred to run on asphalt or sidewalk surfaces, and preferred well-lit, tree-lined routes. Major concerns for both men and women include animals and dangerous road conditions. Men and women differed significantly in their responses to the importance of running around others and their primary concerns while running. Results of this study serve to deepen our understanding of recreational road runners’ environmental preferences and concerns, providing valuable information for public health officials and city planners alike. This information must be considered if we are to continue to encourage uptake of running as a sport and reap its health effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Nadine Schuurman & Leah Rosenkrantz & Scott A. Lear, 2021. "Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Road Runners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6268-:d:572193
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6268/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6268/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Grazia Salvo & Bonnie M. Lashewicz & Patricia K. Doyle-Baker & Gavin R. McCormack, 2018. "Neighbourhood Built Environment Influences on Physical Activity among Adults: A Systematized Review of Qualitative Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Arne Arnberger & Renate Eder, 2011. "The influence of age on recreational trail preferences of urban green-space visitors: a discrete choice experiment with digitally calibrated images," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(7), pages 891-908, November.
    3. Sallis, James F & Bull, Fiona & Burdett, Ricky & Frank, Lawrence D. & Griffiths, Peter & Giles-Corti, Billie & Stevenson, Mark, 2016. "Use of science to guide city planning policy and practice: how to achieve healthy and sustainable future cities," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 68652, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Freya Oswald & Jennifer Campbell & Chloë Williamson & Justin Richards & Paul Kelly, 2020. "A Scoping Review of the Relationship between Running and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-39, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Leah Rosenkrantz & Nadine Schuurman & Scott A. Lear, 2024. "Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Trail Runners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou & Marina Chletsou & Chrysovalantis Malesios, 2022. "Runners Experience Lower Heart Rate, Increased Speed, and Joy/Calm on Routes with Trees, by the Sea and through Parks: Implications for Climate Change Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, December.
    3. Stella R. Harden & Nadine Schuurman & Peter Keller & Scott A. Lear, 2022. "Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Running in Metro Vancouver: A Preliminary Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    4. Junqi Chen & Zheng Tao & Wenrui Wu & Ling Wang & Dan Chen, 2024. "Influence of Urban Park Pathway Features on the Density and Intensity of Walking and Running Activities: A Case Study of Shanghai City," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke & Cristhian Figueroa-Martínez & Francisca Parra Huerta & Rodrigo Mora, 2022. "The Disabling City: Older Persons Walking in Central Neighbourhoods of Santiago de Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Fausto Cavallaro & Valentinas Podvezko & Ieva Ubarte & Arturas Kaklauskas, 2017. "MCDM Assessment of a Healthy and Safe Built Environment According to Sustainable Development Principles: A Practical Neighborhood Approach in Vilnius," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-30, April.
    3. Fernando Fonseca & Escolástica Fernandes & Rui Ramos, 2022. "Walkable Cities: Using the Smart Pedestrian Net Method for Evaluating a Pedestrian Network in Guimarães, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Judith Schröder & Susanne Moebus & Julita Skodra, 2022. "Selected Research Issues of Urban Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-28, May.
    5. Mai-Thi Ta & Léa Tardieu & Harold Levrel, 2022. "Characterizing the Demand Side of Urban Greening to Inform Urban Planning -A Discrete Choice Experiment in the Paris Metropolitan Region [Qualifier la demande de renaturation urbaine pour mieux ren," Post-Print hal-04210911, HAL.
    6. Ling Qiu & Qujing Chen & Tian Gao, 2021. "The Effects of Urban Natural Environments on Preference and Self-Reported Psychological Restoration of the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Paula Hooper & Sarah Foster & Billie Giles-Corti, 2019. "A Case Study of a Natural Experiment Bridging the ‘Research into Policy’ and ‘Evidence-Based Policy’ Gap for Active-Living Science," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-14, July.
    8. Liu, Zhaoyang & Hanley, Nick & Campbell, Danny, 2020. "Linking urban air pollution with residents’ willingness to pay for greenspace: A choice experiment study in Beijing," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    9. Gavin R. McCormack & Levi Frehlich & Anita Blackstaffe & Tanvir C. Turin & Patricia K. Doyle-Baker, 2020. "Active and Fit Communities. Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Health-Related Fitness in Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-12, February.
    10. Jeffrey, Dana & Boulangé, Claire & Giles-Corti, Billie & Washington, Simon & Gunn, Lucy, 2019. "Using walkability measures to identify train stations with the potential to become transit oriented developments located in walkable neighbourhoods," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 221-231.
    11. Schindler, Mirjam & Wang, Judith Y.T. & Connors, Richard D., 2021. "A two-stage residential location and transport mode choice model with exposure to traffic-induced air pollution," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    12. Christy Teranishi Martinez & Crista Scott Tappan & Harley Baker & Makayla Edwards & Juliane Martinez, 2023. "Sexual Harassment and Assault across Trail and Ultrarunning Communities: A Mixed-Method Study Exploring Gender Differences," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Ana Louro & Nuno Marques da Costa & Eduarda Marques da Costa, 2019. "Sustainable Urban Mobility Policies as a Path to Healthy Cities—The Case Study of LMA, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-32, May.
    14. Kimihiro Hino & Ayako Taniguchi & Masamichi Hanazato & Daisuke Takagi, 2019. "Modal Shift from Cars and Promotion of Walking by Providing Pedometers in Yokohama City, Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-14, June.
    15. Stephan, André & Stephan, Laurent, 2020. "Achieving net zero life cycle primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions apartment buildings in a Mediterranean climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    16. Sadegh Fathi & Hassan Sajadzadeh & Faezeh Mohammadi Sheshkal & Farshid Aram & Gergo Pinter & Imre Felde & Amir Mosavi, 2020. "The Role of Urban Morphology Design on Enhancing Physical Activity and Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-29, March.
    17. Carme Miralles-Guasch & Javier Dopico & Xavier Delclòs-Alió & Pablo Knobel & Oriol Marquet & Roser Maneja-Zaragoza & Jasper Schipperijn & Guillem Vich, 2019. "Natural Landscape, Infrastructure, and Health: The Physical Activity Implications of Urban Green Space Composition among the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-14, October.
    18. Xue Zhang & Mildred E. Warner, 2023. "Linking Urban Planning, Community Environment, and Physical Activity: A Socio-Ecological Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    19. Nannan Zhang & Fengxin Sun & Yongsheng Zhu & Qinglan Zheng & Changjun Jia & Yupeng Mao & Bing Liu, 2023. "Effects of Fitness Dance and Funny Running on Anxiety of Female Ph.D. Candidates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, January.
    20. Kwan, Soo Chen & Ismail, Rohaida & Ismail, Nor Halizam & Mohamed, Norlen, 2021. "An ecological study of the relationship between urban built environment and cardiovascular hospital admissions (2004–2016) in an Asian developing country," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6268-:d:572193. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.