Indicator: Ease of Access to Shops and Services
Data and Data Discussion provided by
Communities Count
Sustainability Snapshot:
Local shops and services, such as groceries, libraries and primary health care, make life easier and encourage physical activity, social interaction, and conviviality. They can also reduce car use and free up time for other activities than errands. In general, King County residents are pleased with their access to shops and services but as it becomes more expensive to drive, people may begin to prefer shops and services closer to home.
Sustainability Trend:
In general, three-fourths of respondents were satisfied with their access to these amenities. There were no significant differences in satisfaction between regions, or between 2007 and 2004 when the survey was previously conducted (data not shown).
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Percent of adults who are satisfied with neighborhood access to grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment, King County
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In a 2007 survey, King County adults were asked their level of satisfaction with access to grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment in their neighborhood. In general, three-fourths of respondents were satisfied with their access to these amenities.
Satisfaction with access to grocery stores tended to be higher than with access to restaurants or entertainment. There were no significant differences in satisfaction between regions, or between
2007 and 2004 when the survey was previously conducted (data not shown).
Those ages 65 and older expressed more satisfaction with their access to entertainment than those ages 25-44. Those with a high school education or less expressed more satisfaction with their access to restaurants than those with a college education. There were no differences by race/ethnicity, gender or income.
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The measures of satisfaction with neighborhood access to grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment were contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and are from the King County Community Health Survey, 2004, and were adapted from the “Neighborhood Quality of Life Survey”, Frank, L., Sallis, J. and Saelens, B. The measure of minutes to the grocery store is from the King County Community Health Survey, 2001.
The limitations of an English-only telephone survey include the following: a) people who do not have a telephone are missed, b) people who do not speak English do not participate, c) people who have less education and lower incomes tend to be underrepresented.
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