Both disciplines seek to improve living conditions and health by preventing, identifying, investigating, and eliminating problems that may pose threats to residents' health and welfare. Physical inactivity exacts an enormous public health toll. Inactivity's negative effects have generated interest in collaboration between public health, city planning, and transportation organizations. Many communities, however, are designed to accommodate automobile traffic rather than safe and convenient pedestrian or bicycle travel. Walking is generally suitable for most people, regardless of age, sex, race, or income.
Research also reveals that walking is beneficial.
Bicycling is another way to increase physical activity. Urban Design Challenges Literature from various disciplines suggests that community design and transportation systems often neglect pedestrians and bicyclists because destinations of interest are distant and not very well connected, making safe and convenient walking and bicycling difficult, if not impossible. While some community design features may have important independent effects on walking and bicycling, participation will depend on a mix of interdependent features. Although bicycling and walking will not replace all short trips, these modes may be practical for many of them. Public health practitioners, especially physicians, nurses, and therapists could make significant contributions to health by recommending that patients incorporate more daily walking and bicycling.