The Challenge: Residents who live in communities plagued with dilapidated buildings, unkempt lots, crumbling or nonexistent sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes, may not feel as safe as residents who live in well maintained communities. Research shows that people’s perceptions about crime and public safety impact their daily decisions, such as whether they feel comfortable using parks, walking in their neighborhoods or taking public transportation.

Make an impact: While public safety and obesity is seemingly unrelated, these issues share common solutions, including designing communities that allow residents to walk, bike and play safely and addressing residents’ concerns about crime.

What the findings are about: This brief discusses policy recommendations that are designed to reduce crime and improve the built environment, thus improving the safety of communities in ways that also could help reduce the high rates of obesity across the nation.