Assessing safe active transportation for youth of color in California

Background: Using modes of Active Transportation (AT) regularly, such as walking and biking, can greatly reduce an individual's risk for obesity. Youth of color, ages 12-18 years old, are not only disproportionately impacted by obesity, with 34% overweight or obese in California compared to 12% of their white peers, but are less likely to use AT as well. Furthermore, little research has been done to determine what the barriers and supports to AT are for this population. Methods: Eleven in-depth interviews with content experts and four focus groups with 22 youth leaders ages 13-18, were conducted in Fresno and Oakland, California. Focus groups employed creative activities such as illustrating pictures of their neighborhoods and taking photos of their neighborhood during a walking tour to convey barriers and supports to safe AT. Findings: Youth participants in both cities named violence and the lack of proper street infrastructure, such as suitable sidewalks, bike lanes and signage, as the biggest barriers to safe AT. In Fresno, youth who use AT face increased exposure to hazards due to traveling distance from the downtown area. In Oakland, youth identified police harassment as a primary barrier. Additionally, stakeholders reported that funding for Public Works is not equally distributed among communities to meet the infrastructural needs of low-income neighborhoods. Conclusions: Additional research on the distribution of Public Works funding. Also, violence prevention efforts and improvements to street infrastructure are recommended to promote and ensure safe AT.