Walkability and Physical Activity: Evidence from Millions of Smartphone Users

Researchers analyzed anonymized data from over 2 million US smartphone users in the Azumio Argus health app, focusing on 5,424 participants who relocated across 1,609 cities. The study found a significant positive correlation between moving to a more walkable city and increased daily steps, consistent across various demographic and activity levels. This suggests that improving urban walkability can effectively boost physical activity. A nationwide simulation further estimated the impact of walkability improvements on US residents' physical activity, providing data-driven insights for urban planning.