The level of physical activity of the population is becoming a major public health concern in the United States (Wahlgren, 2011). Due to urban sprawl, Americans rely heavily on personal vehicles to get to work or other destinations. This leads to a sedentary lifestyle for the public as they take their cars to their destinations. The public's perception of the environments they live in likely influences their behaviors, leading to their reliance on personal vehicles. (Wahlgren, 2011). The physical environment and physical activity levels of individuals are directly linked. Low-density zoning and self-contained development result in the promotion of sedentary lifestyles. Most activities, such as commuting to work or shopping, require the use of a personal vehicle due to the isolation of the area between residential and commercial areas (Ewing, 2010). Alternative modes such as walking or cycling are rather impractical, as areas often have few or no sidewalks or other pedestrian-friendly amenities (Marshall, 2009). Low-density design is developed because residential homes have fewer units per acre and commercial buildings tend to be only a few stories high and spaced more widely apart. Lot sizes tend to be larger to accommodate large parking lots that are often oversized and dangerous for pedestrians. In an effort to combat the continued development of urban sprawl, smart growth development seeks to resolve this dilemma. The idea of ​​smart growth focuses its development around compact, walkable centers within urban areas. The aim is to avoid increasing sprawl through the implementation of walkable, bicycle-friendly and alternative means of transport such as b...... middle of paper ......uate personal motivation , but it is an issue that involves social and physical obstacles that also need to be overcome (Steinman, 2010). Environments that improve walkability are generally associated with greater foot traffic and lower body mass index (BMI). Neighborhood safety, traffic volumes, and road speeds have been identified in ACRES and other studies as determinants of a walkable neighborhood (Steinman, 2010, Wahlgren, 2011). Planners can approach these problems in several different ways. Placing sidewalks and lighting to clearly guide pedestrians and creating visibility with tree cover can create inviting and safe spaces. It is possible to reduce volume and speed on roadways by introducing curb bulbs, roundabouts and buffer zones between sidewalks and streets through landscaping (Wahlgren, 2011, Dumbaugh, 2011, Frumkin, 2002).