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What is built environment?
What is built environment?
The term built environment refers to the way where the places where we live and work are structured and designed. It includes man-made structures like:
- roads, sidewalks and other transit ways;
- location of business parks, grocery stores, homes and other infrastructures
- feature, like parks, water ways, tree canopy and more
- facilities such as location and number of schools, hospitals, water works and other utilities.
Built Environment & Health
Built Environment & Health
The built environment of a neighborhood, town, city, county; the environment in which people live and work can influence health and health outcomes.
A clear example of this is evident in the many changes that have occurred to our physical environment over the past decades, including the development of car dependent neighborhoods and the vast availability of fast food. Studies have shown how these changes (and others) to our built environment have significantly impacted how we eat and move around. It is not surprising that conditions like obesity and diabetes have risen in all ages.
Transportation
Transportation
Transportation & Health
Transportation & Health
Another example of how our built environment can affect our health relates to the issue of transportation. Residents rely on transportation to travel to work, medical appointments, school, and more.
Linking Health & Transportation Report
Linking Health & Transportation Report
A recent report: Linking Health and Transportation: Voice of Oshkosh Walkers, Cyclists and Transit Users explored the connections between transportation and health, identified which facilities enhance or impeded a person’s ability to use walking, biking and transit in the City of Oshkosh and determined what changes might need to be made in the built environment to improve access to transportation.
The main findings of the report reveal that residents link transportation to health in three primary ways:
The main findings of the report reveal that residents link transportation to health in three primary ways:
- Accessing health-related services, (medical care, medication/prescription pick-up, and healthy foods)
- Interactions with physical and mental health
- Residents with certain health issues experience limitations with transportation choices and availability
- Complexities of navigating transportation system increases stress and anxiety
- Using walking/bicycling as transportation improves or maintains health through increased physical activity
Common safety issues felt by residents in the City of Oshkosh relate to:
Common safety issues felt by residents in the City of Oshkosh relate to:
- crossing busy streets or high traffic areas (including bridges and round-a-bouts
- traveling in isolated areas with limited lighting
- perceived crime
- limited emergency communication access
Some residents feel they have an ability to improve the transportation system, while others perceive the system as inflexible and their voices as powerless.
Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan
Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan
Considerable planning for bicycling and walking has occurred within Winnebago County and the surrounding counties in recent years; however, much of this planning has occurred at the municipal level, leaving plans for disconnected islands of bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the region as a whole. In 2017 a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was unveiled with the intent to connect local residents to community amenities, identify multi-modal transportation options that improve the safety and health of all county residents, and connect local and regional bicycle and/or pedestrian plans.
Transportation as a social determinant of health.
Transportation as a social determinant of health.
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