People today are more knowledgeable and start paying attention on healthcare. In most people common sense, chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol and so on and so forth are results of the civilization society today. And, the common consent on this emergence of chronic disease is caused by the eating habits, the lifestyle that many depends on the automobile nowadays , the advanced of technology, smoking, and stress of life.
Yup, above statements are all correct. But... what makes them have to travel along the ways to work or to school? What causes them have to travel over a long distances to gyms and fitness centers for exercising? The built environment nowadays is increasingly driven by automobile dependent living. People work far from their homes, children are either by bus or driven to school, cars are used to run most errands and opportunities for social interaction are so limited.
If, through the urban planning, communities become places where people willing to stay and work, now and future, in well functioned and high quality environments. At the same time, all the infrastructures and amenities required such as transit, buses, shops, parks and community facilities, all able been reached on foot or by bike within 10 minutes. Even the distance to working places are available within easy travelling distance. No more long distance travel across the roads, people able reach any places they want by their feet. Indirectly, well designed urban planning spurred the chances of residents moving and exercising.
The built environment
in Malysia is increasingly characterized by sprawling, car-dependent
suburban living. For example Putrajaya, Seremban, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur. People work far from their homes, children are bused or driven
to school, cars are used to run most errands and opportunities for social interaction
are limited. The consequences include poor air quality, deficient social
capital and an increased incidence of injuries. Heat-absorbent asphalt and
concrete surfaces and a lack of tree cover can also cause higher temperatures,
which can increase health risks, especially for the elderly. The built
environment's impact on physical activity, however, has the most significance
for health.
Environments
to support walking
So, the growing body of
evidence links the built
environment to health outcomes. What should we do? The evidence points to the relationship between neighborhood design and the
extent to which neighborhoods support walking with health
outcomes. Take a look on foreign example : Toronto. Study shows that a low density suburbs have low walkability and a higher prevalence of diabetes. Besides, low-density suburbs also typically have a larger
environmental footprint.
When we think about
physical activity, recreation often comes to mind. But getting from A to B —
utilitarian physical activity — has a greater potential impact on health than
recreational physical activity. Supporting this type of activity requires a fundamental
change in the built environment.
We know what a
healthy built environment looks like. It includes a range of services — such as
transit, shops, parks and community facilities — that can be reached on foot or
by bike within 10 minutes. Some employment will be available within easy travelling
distance. The streets are set out in a rectilinear, connected pattern rather
than crescents and cul-de-sacs. Roads are relatively narrow and houses and
shops are close to the street, with parking at the rear. There is a mix of
housing types (fewer single detached, more townhouses and apartments above
retail). These characteristics are associated with the "New Urbanism"
movement. All of this requires densities to be considerably higher than those
that currently prevail in our suburbs.
Urban Planners VS Built Environment
Urban planners have,
over many years, developed a vision of a high-quality built environment. It
includes the elements that research has shown to be related to good health. This work is complex
and involves many interests. For example, the design of roads is influenced by
transportation engineers. Adding bike lanes and bus lanes may widen roads
unless lane widths are adjusted. School boards may build one large school
instead of several neighborhood schools, or may not
provide bike racks. This affects the level of activity required to travel to
and from school.
A built environment
that supports health is no different than a built environment that is
aesthetically pleasing, that provides good recreational opportunities, that is
environmentally sustainable, that minimizes the costs of infrastructure and
that enhances economic prosperity by reducing traffic congestion. We all have
much to gain by working together to produce better places to live, work and
play.
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