The Accessibility of Dinner: A Study of Food Accessibility in Bethel, Eugene, Oregon
Date
2009-06-12
Authors
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Publisher
Department of Planning, Public Policy & Management, University of Oregon
Abstract
Food system planning has recently emerged as a component of the city planner’s portfolio as
the country faces an unprecedented obesity epidemic caused partly by poor access to high
quality, affordable, and healthy foods. Through the use of a Geographic Information System
and a built environmental assessment, this research analyzed food accessibility in the Bethel
neighborhood in Eugene, Oregon.
The findings of this research suggest that although the individual developments within Bethel
have the right characteristics for connectivity, the distribution of and connections between
these developments negate opportunities for food accessibility, especially if residents desire to
use active transportation such as walking or biking. Findings and recommendations from this
project can be used to inform food system planning and accessible neighborhood design as well
as suggest opportunities to use existing infrastructure to increase food accessibility within
residential neighborhoods.
Description
Examining committee: Marc Schlossberg, chair, Nico Larco, Geraldine Moreno-Black
Keywords
Food accessibility, Bethel Neighborhood (Eugene, Or.)