Sherry Ryan

Does Proximity to Retailers Influence Alcohol and Tobacco Use Among Latino Adolescents

Despite decades of research surrounding determinants of alcohol and tobacco (A&T) use among adolescents, built environment influences have only recently been explored. This study used ordinal regression on 205 Latino adolescents to explore the influence of the built environment (proximity to A&T retailers) on A&T use, while controlling for recognized social predictors. The sample was 45% foreign-born. A&T use was associated with distance from respondents’ home to the nearest A&T retailer (−), acculturation (+), parents’ consistent use of contingency management (−), peer use of A&T (+), skipping school (+), attending school in immediate proximity to the US/Mexico border (+), and the interaction between the distance to the nearest retailer and parents’ consistent use of contingency management (+). The association between decreasing distance to the nearest A&T retailer and increased A&T use in Latino adolescents reveals an additional risk behavior determinant in the US–Mexico border region.

Pedestrian environments and transit ridership

This paper explores how the quality of the pedestrian environment around transit stops relates with transit ridership. The primary hypothesis tested is that transit trip-making is higher in urban environments that are more conducive to non-motorized travel, given that bus transit systems are most frequently accessed via walking or biking. A secondary goal is to contribute to an improved understanding of the measurement of the built environment in geographic information systems. A composite measure of walkability--incorporating land use mix, density, and street patterns--was developed for all transit stops in San Diegos Metropolitan Transit Systems service area and used as a measure of the built environment. Findings indicate a small but significant, positive relationship between the walkability of the built environment and transit ridership.

Latent growth curve modeling of adolescent physical activity: Testing parallel process and mediation models

Data from a randomized clinical trial were used to examine the extent to which a health promotion intervention affected changes in psychosocial constructs and if so whether these in turn explained changes in physical activity (PA). PA and psychosocial data on 878 adolescents (ages 11—15) recruited through primary care providers (age M = 12.7 years, SD = 1.3; 58% white non-Hispanic) were measured at baseline, six and 12 months. Parallel process latent growth curve analyses found positive relationships between the growth trajectories of behavior change strategies, self-efficacy, family support, peer support and the growth trajectory of PA. However, mediation analyses did not reveal statistically significant intervention-mediated effects.

Sustainable transportation and land development on the periphery: a case study of Freiburg, Germany and Chula Vista, California

Abstract This paper examines two land developments in the cities of Freiburg (Germany) and Chula Vista (California) with the purpose of comparing their transportation and land use planning institutions, processes, and actions for the importance placed on achieving sustainability. Planning practitioners in both places are committed to concepts of sustainability, but their respective attempts to achieve sustainability differ dramatically. Freiburg is pursuing relatively high density land development in conjunction with transit service, while Chula Vista is pursuing relatively low-density, auto-oriented land development patterns.

Fe en Accion/Faith in Action: Design and implementation of a church-based randomized trial to promote physical activity and cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas.

OBJECTIVES To describe both conditions of a two-group randomized trial, one that promotes physical activity and one that promotes cancer screening, among churchgoing Latinas. The trial involves promotoras (community health workers) targeting multiple levels of the Ecological Model. This trial builds on formative and pilot research findings. DESIGN Sixteen churches were randomly assigned to either the physical activity intervention or cancer screening comparison condition (approximately 27 women per church). In both conditions, promotoras from each church intervened at the individual- (e.g., beliefs), interpersonal- (e.g., social support), and environmental- (e.g., park features and access to health care) levels to affect change on target behaviors. MEASUREMENTS The studys primary outcome is min/wk of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at baseline and 12 and 24 months following implementation of intervention activities. We enrolled 436 Latinas (aged 18-65 years) who engaged in less than 250 min/wk of MVPA at baseline as assessed by accelerometer, attended church at least four times per month, lived near their church, and did not have a health condition that could prevent them from participating in physical activity. Participants were asked to complete measures assessing physical activity and cancer screening as well as their correlates at 12- and 24-months. SUMMARY Findings from the current study will address gaps in research by showing the long term effectiveness of multi-level faith-based interventions promoting physical activity and cancer screening among Latino communities.

College Students Use Cell Phones while Driving More Frequently than Found in Government Study.

Objective Cell phone use while driving is hazardous; it quadruples the risk of a collision and multiplies the risk of a fatality nine-fold. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 8% of young drivers and 5% of all drivers use cell phones while driving. Participants and Methods The authors trained graduate student volunteers to observe the daytime cell phone use of 3,650 drivers leaving the student exits of college parking structures at a large university. Results The student observers recorded a cell phone usage rate of 11.1%, which was significantly higher than that seen in the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (p < .00001). Female drivers were 1.51 times more likely to be using a cell phone while driving than were men (12.9% vs 8.6%, p < .001), and drivers with passengers were 0.15 times more likely to drive while telephoning than were solo drivers (1.8% vs 12.1%, p < .001). Conclusions The authors offer suggestions for possible interventions to reduce this hazardous behavior.

Ciclovía participation and impacts in San Diego, CA: The first CicloSDias

OBJECTIVE Ciclovía or Open Streets initiatives support physical activity through cycling/rolling, and walking/running. We evaluated San Diegos first Open Streets event, CicloSDias, to document attendance, reach and marketing, and effects on social cohesion, businesses, and physical activity. METHODS The comprehensive evaluation consisted of a city-wide survey 1 week before and after the event (n=805), counts of event attendees, and surveys of event attendees (n=713) and businesses (n=26). RESULTS An estimated 8311 people attended the event. Attendees had an average of 144 min (SD=85) of physical activity, 97% met the 30 min/day guideline, and 39% met the 150 min/week guideline during the event. 27% of attendees would have been inactive without the event. Awareness of the event was 10% before and 26% after the event. When comparing event attendees to San Diego residents, Latinos and non-White race/ethnicities were under-represented. Restaurants/pubs, services, and most retail stores excluding liquor stores and food markets reported positive or neutral impacts on business. CONCLUSION Open Street initiatives are promising ways to promote physical activity and are desired by the community. Positive effects were observed for physical activity, social cohesion, and businesses, though reach should be expanded to include more underserved community members. Evaluating Open Streets is important for sustaining and improving these efforts.

Documenting Targeted Behaviors Associated with Pedestrian Safety

The purpose of this study was to provide an exploratory analysis of the proportion of pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers exhibiting four specific behaviors at 12 intersections near transit stations in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Those target behaviors were (a) pedestrians crossing a roadway while using a mobile device, such as a cell phone; (b) pedestrians crossing a signalized intersection against a red light; (c) bicyclists running a red light at a signalized intersection; and (d) automobiles turning right on red without stopping. Those four behaviors are important because they may lead to pedestrian crashes. Overall, 8% of pedestrians used mobile devices while crossing, but the proportion ranged from less than 3% to more than 18% at specific study sites. At some locations, fewer than 3% of nonmotorized road users violated red lights, whereas approximately 70% did at other sites. The percentage of motorists turning right on red without stopping ranged from zero to more than 70%. Female pedestrians were more likely than were males to talk on mobile devices while crossing a street, but males were more likely to violate traffic signals while walking or bicycling. However, these observations did not control for differences in gender and other characteristics at sites. As pedestrian and bicycle mode shares increase, it will be essential for all users to understand their rights and responsibilities in the environment of the roadway. The documentation of behaviors helps provide a foundation for engineering, education, enforcement, and encouragement countermeasures that will improve safety for pedestrians and other roadway users.

Designing and Implementing a Regional Active Transportation Monitoring Program through a County-MPO-University Collaboration

Purpose. This article describes a unique effort underway in San Diego County to establish a regional nonmotorized data collection system in support of long-range planning for bicycle and pedestrian systems, and physical activity promotion and monitoring. Design. Case study of a novel approach to siting a regional active travel data collection program. Setting. San Diego County, California. Subjects. None. Intervention. Installation of 54 automated bicycle and pedestrian counting units at 35 sites across San Diego County. Measures. Equipment siting criteria including population density, employment density, median household income, planned bicycle network, and planned land uses. Analysis. Mapping, stakeholder input, site visits. Results. A comprehensive network of 76 sites identified and proposed for long-range implementation. Conclusion. This research establishes a siting methodology that holds promise for replication in other regions. San Diegos counting program is one of the most comprehensive automated data collection systems of any region in the United States.

Quantifying the Sustainability, Livability, and Equity Performance of Urban and Suburban Places in California

For years, researchers and practitioners have worked toward measuring urban form, but a gap still remains in the research to quantify how urban and suburban place-types affect economic, social, and environmental outcomes at small geographic scales. To provide such analysis, this paper describes the development of a place typology and sustainability performance measurement framework for all census tracts in California. This study found there were clear trade-offs between urban and suburban living. Compared with suburbs, the households in urban places benefited from a 57.9% reduction in annual vehicle miles traveled, 37.2% lower transport-related greenhouse gas emissions per capita, and saved more than US