Abstract: This study tested the representativeness of four street
segment sampling protocols using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) in
eleven neighborhoods surrounding public housing developments in Houston, TX. The
following four street segment sampling protocols were used (1) all segments, both
residential and arterial, ... read morecontained within the 400 meter radius buffer from the
center point of the housing development (the core) were compared with all segments
contained between the 400 meter radius buffer and the 800 meter radius buffer (the
ring); all residential segments in the core were compared with (2) 75% (3) 50% and
(4) 25% samples of randomly selected residential street segments in the core.
Analyses were conducted on five key variables: sidewalk presence; ratings of
attractiveness and safety for walking; connectivity; and number of traffic lanes.
Some differences were found when comparing all street segments, both residential and
arterial, in the core to the ring. Findings suggested that sampling 25% of
residential street segments within the 400 m radius of a residence sufficiently
represents the pedestrian built environment. Conclusions support more cost effective
environmental data collection for physical activity research.
McMillan, Tracy, Catherine Cubbin, Barbara Parmenter, Ashley
V. Medina, and Rebecca E. Lee. "Neighborhood sampling: how many streets must an
auditor walk?." International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
7, no. 1 (12, 2010): 1-5.