GIS Walking Maps

To facilitate walking among low-income residents in Boston, custom walking maps were developed for a 0.5 mile radius area around housing sites. These maps highlight safe walking routes and potential destinations to encourage physical activity for residents. The maps include safety tips specific to each area, and were created in both English and Spanish. In addition to being placed in high traffic areas in the housing sites, the maps were distributed to residents through trained peer leaders. The formation of walking clubs was also encouraged as part of the intervention.

Walking maps are designed to encourage low-income individuals to increase their physical activity by providing information on safe walking routes and destinations within their neighborhood.

To determine the impact that walking maps had on participating communities, four focus groups were organized to obtain feedback from residents. Each group included 6-8 residents from the same housing site and participants were recruited through word of mouth. Of the four housing sites represented by the focus groups, three used the maps and one did not. Participants reported increased awareness of neighborhood resources, use of the map to increase exercise and utilitarian walking, and an improved perception of distances that made them more likely to walk to destinations instead of taking a bus or driving. The maps also sparked an interest to improve the community among the focus group participants. Older adults reported trouble interpreting the map and cited the need for one-on-one instruction.