2022/06/16 by Bruce Appleyard · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Environmental Science · Health Professions · #Urban Transport and Accessibility #Urban Green Space and Health #Noise Effects and Management
paper · doi:10.1080/13574809.2022.2070145
openalex publication_date 2022/06/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/10
While most studies focus on the environmental and physical activity benefits of providing safe and livable streets for children, this paper provides a unique before-and-after experiment using cognitive (or image) mapping exercises employing innovative comparison methods. This work demonstrates how exposure to heavy traffic negatively affects children’s perceptions of their environment, and how improving the pedestrian environment (building walkways and improving a crosswalk) can improve those perceptions. This shift may not only encourage more physical activity and strengthen the connection with their communities but also help children in their cognitive development of spatial knowledge.